March 16 (UPI) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda announced Thursday that his country would send fighter jets to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO nation to do so.
As part of the agreement, Ukraine will receive four Soviet-era MiG-29s, which were inherited from East Germany after the Berlin Wall came down. The announcement could put pressure on other NATO countries to also supply fighter jets.
"When it comes to the MiG-29 aircraft, which are still operating in the defense of Polish airspace, a decision has been taken at the highest levels, we can say confidently that we are sending MiGs to Ukraine," Duda said, according to CNN.
The United States has steadfastly refused to supply F-16s to Ukraine, saying that they require too much training and ground support.
"It doesn't change our calculus with respect to F-16s," John Kirby, a top official at the U.S. National Security Council, said Thursday, according to CNN.