The issue of transferring Polish MiG-29 aircraft to the Ukrainian air force is being used by the December 13 coalition government as an attempt to discredit the presidential camp. This time, however, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland (MSZ RP), Radosław Sikorski, published a post publicly presenting the circumstances of the domestic debate on the matter. “Why, for what reason? Is this true?” asks the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Sławomir Cenckiewicz.
The head of the Ministry of National Defence (MON), Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, on Wednesday referred to reports concerning the possible transfer to Ukraine of MiG-29 fighter jets that are still in service with the Polish Air Force. The defence minister emphasized that Poland intends to take steps aimed at transferring these aircraft to the Ukrainian side.
Later the same day, however, signals emerged from the circle of President Karol Nawrocki indicating that the president had not been informed of any plans concerning the transfer of fighters to Ukraine. This is all the more surprising given that the President of the Republic of Poland also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which means that decisions of this kind should be consulted with him.
“No such information reached me, but I am calm that with Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz we will clarify this and reach an understanding on this issue; however, my aides were right – I did not receive any official information about such actions or about transferring MiGs to Ukraine,” said President Karol Nawrocki himself.
An Anti-Polish Fight Against the President
The issue of transferring Polish MiGs has become a weapon for the government side in its fight against the presidential camp. The head of the Ministry of National Defence (MON) stated that “this topic was discussed several times during the term of President Andrzej Duda, but also already during the term of Karol Nawrocki at meetings of the Committee of the Council of Ministers for National Security, which meets every Tuesday.” He noted that such meetings are attended by a representative of the president – the deputy head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Gen. Mirosław Bryś.
Robert Kropiwnicki, an MP from the Civic Coalition (KO), directly attacked the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Sławomir Cenckiewicz, and revealed the government’s actions, saying that “if Nawrocki had fired the reset-era operative Cenckiewicz, no one would be hiding key facts concerning Poland’s security from the president.”
“They want to portray the president’s people as individuals the government does not want to talk to because they are deficient. All of this is perceived abroad in such a way that there is no point in talking to us, including with the president, because even if something is agreed with the president, the government will do the opposite out of spite. This is mortally dangerous,” said Katarzyna Gójska, editor-in-chief of the monthly Nowe Państwo, on Saturday on the program Rewolwer broadcast on TV Republika.
Sikorski Publicly Reveals the Backstage of the Talks
Today, Radosław Sikorski, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland (MSZ RP), entered this scenario dangerous for Poland by pointing to the circumstances surrounding the decision on the MiG issue, which was debated between institutions crucial to Poland’s security.
The post prompted a reaction from the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Sławomir Cenckiewicz.
“Is the Minister of Foreign Affairs officially informing about resistance from the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (SG WP) to donating fighter jets to Ukraine? Why, for what reason? Is this true?” he asked.