Zelensky reproached Poland for refusing to transfer aircraft to Ukraine under the scheme agreed upon with NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had reached an agreement with NATO on a plan whereby Poland was supposed to transfer Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. However, according to Zelensky, the Polish side “found another reason” not to deliver the aircraft.

He shared this information during a press conference in Zakarpattia.

Zelensky said that he had previously reached an agreement with NATO’s former Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to compensate Poland for the jets it would transfer. Nevertheless, Poland still refused to provide the equipment.

“We very much wanted to receive MiGs from Poland, but they couldn’t deliver them because they didn’t have enough of their own. So, we arranged with NATO to assign them a police mission, similar to what our Baltic friends have. We agreed on this. And what happened after? Did Poland give us the planes? No. Was another reason found? Yes,” Zelensky explained.

The president also criticized Warsaw for not agreeing to intercept Russian missiles heading toward Poland over Ukrainian territory.

Zelensky emphasized that the West is hesitant to supply Ukraine with weapons without seeing results on the front lines.

“It will be challenging to secure large quantities of weapons from our partners and expect strong support from them. People want to see a truly capable army, to see the people fighting against the Russian occupier. Then they support you. And that’s a fact. Whether this is fair or unfair, timely or untimely, is another matter. The main thing is the result,” said the president.

He also addressed the issue of refugees. According to Zelensky, European countries intend to end social benefits for Ukrainians, prompting some of them to return to Ukraine. He added that EU countries want to retain only those Ukrainians who are employed.

“Regarding Ukrainians who aren’t working abroad, European authorities are looking for ways to encourage them to return to Ukraine. This is a fact. In one way or another, this portion of Ukrainians will return, as social benefits and support abroad will disappear. This is a fact,” the president stated.

He also mentioned that, according to his information, there are 1.1 million Ukrainian refugees in Germany, of whom at least 300,000 are not working and “aren’t even trying.”