The German government this week approved a request from Poland to send five of its old fighter jets to Ukraine. The approval comes as Kyiv is looking to acquire more sophisticated fighter jets to bolster its defenses against Russia.
The German defense ministry said on Thursday that it had approved a request from Poland to export five of its old MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. German defense minister Boris Pistorius said the request arrived and was approved on the same day and that the same-day approval showed that Berlin could be depended on.
Germany inherited 24 of the MiG-29 fighter jets from the East German GDR during the reunification in 1990. Berlin passed 22 of the jets to Poland. Warsaw needs Germany’s consent before transferring the jets to Ukraine.
This comes as Ukraine has sought to acquire advanced fighter jets such as the F-16, but its Western allies have been reluctant to do so. However, some countries have provided old MiG-29 fighter aircraft that Ukrainian forces already use.
On Friday, the Russian ambassador to the United States said it might be time to reduce the number of American journalists in Russia following Moscow’s arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov told Russian state television that Washington threatened to retaliate if Gershkovich is not released.
The Russian security service said that they detained Gershkovich on March 30 and opened an espionage case against him. The US dismissed the charges as ridiculous, with President Joe Biden calling for Gershkovich’s release.
The heaviest fighting on the ground has been taking place in Bakhmut, where both sides have sought control of the key city for months. The British defense ministry said in its intelligence bulletin that Moscow has revived its assault on Bakhmut as the Russian army and the Russian Wagner mercenary group have improved their cooperation.
The ministry said that Ukrainian forces are still holding their defenses in the western districts of Bakhmut but are facing artillery fire from Russian forces in the last 48 hours.
“Wagner assault groups continue to conduct the main advance through the center of the town, while Russian airborne forces have relieved some Wagner units securing the northern and southern flanks of the operation,” said the ministry.
