Kyiv/Bratislava. As Ukraine’s direct neighbor, Slovakia has always been quick to provide arms assistance. First, the Bratislava government sent heavy howitzers, now the fighters must be delivered. Together with Poland, Soviet-type MiG-29 aircraft will be made available. In any case, Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad warned against haste in delivering the warplanes to the country attacked by Russia: “I think it’s time for a decision. People in Ukraine are dying. We can really help them . So there’s no more room to politicize. That’s irresponsible.”
Slovakia retired its last MiG-29s last fall. The reason given at the time was that the machines were out of date and could only be repaired by technicians from “enemy Russia”.
According to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Bratislava could deliver ten operational aircraft. Nad had previously indicated that he would expect compensation from Germany or another NATO country. Poland still has around 30 MiG-29 aircraft.
Switzerland theoretically allows arms delivery
According to its own statements, Poland has meanwhile sent ten more Leopard main battle tanks, as announced. Warsaw announced on Tuesday that the tanks would be delivered by the end of the week. Poland also wants to set up a maintenance and repair center for the main battle tanks that will be delivered to Ukraine.
In the meantime, the Swiss parliament voted by a slim majority to allow the delivery of arms to the warring states, but linked this to a condition that could not be met in the case of war in Ukraine. Accordingly, the government should exceptionally be able to authorize the re-export of Swiss-made weapons if the UN Security Council condemns a war of aggression. Of course, as a permanent member, Russia has a right of veto.
According to Lithuanian secret services, Russia is capable of continuing the war in Ukraine for a long time. “We estimate that the resources available to Russia today would be enough to fight a war with the same intensity as today for another two years,” said Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius of the Baltic country’s military intelligence service. Russia is becoming “increasingly totalitarian” under President Vladimir Putin, the report said. The war in Ukraine is undermining “the regime’s political and economic foundations”.