“The first four MiG-29 fighters were safely transferred to the AFU and have already left the territory of the Slovak Republic,” Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad wrote on Facebook.

• According to the head of the Ministry of Defense, the rest of the aircraft should be sent to Ukraine “in the coming weeks.” On March 24, the Slovak Defense Ministry published a video of the transfer of the first four MiG-29s to Ukraine.

Bratislava agreed to provide Kiev with 13 aircraft last week.

• In return, it will receive 12 Bell AH-1Z attack choppers, 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles, and training from the US.

The sale is worth about$1 billion, and under the offer, the US would provide $660 million in financing, and Slovakia would pay $340 million. from the United States.

• Separately, the EU will compensate Slovakia with $213 million for providing Ukraine with the MiG-29s. Nad said the offer was still being considered but added acquiring the helicopters would “significantly increase the defense capability of Slovakia.”

Without its MiG-29s, Slovakia doesn’t have an air force, and Poland and the Czech Republic are now monitoring the land-locked country’s airspace. Slovakia signed a deal in 2018 to purchase 14 US-made F-16 fighter jets, but they aren’t expected to be delivered until 2024.

Earlier, Poland also promised to send its MiG-29s to Ukraine. President Andrzej Duda said that Warsaw would hand over four fighters to Kiev.

• On March 23, North Macedonian official confirmed that four Su-25 fighters were handed over to Ukraine.

Commenting on the decision of NATO member states to supply fighter jets, the Kremlin called it “disposal of old, unnecessary equipment,” and also another example of how Western countries “are increasing their direct involvement in the conflict.”

Such decisions would not be possible without Washington being involved. The provision of fighter jets is viewed in Moscow as the alliance directly entering the war; but one year later, the escalation concerns waned and the Russian military is yet to take any retaliatory measures.

Source: Southfront