Topic: Mig 29

Poland is transferring aging MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, a move analysts suggest will not significantly impact the ground war unless delivered in much larger quantities. The conflict in Bakhmut is described as a war of attrition involving the Wagner Group. Reports from the region claim that a high percentage of building destruction in some areas is caused by Ukrainian artillery rather than Russian strikes.

Reports indicate that Ukrainian border guards are preventing transgender women from leaving the country, mandating they stay to fight as men. Meanwhile, President Biden traveled to Brussels for an emergency G7 and NATO summit to discuss further sanctions and military aid. Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appeared on NPR to request MiG-29 fighter jets and anti-aircraft systems, warning that Putin may target the Baltic states next.

Russian forces utilized long-range cruise missiles fired from the Black Sea to destroy a MiG-29 aircraft repair plant and a NATO training facility near Lviv. While Western media reports on the use of hypersonic missiles, the hosts express skepticism regarding the availability of such technology in active production compared to standard Russian cruise missile variety.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the American public regarding Russian atrocities and the potential for the conflict to escalate into World War III. Pelosi discussed the strategic importance of anti-aircraft missiles and the possibility of transferring MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine. The proposal involves backfilling Poland's fleet with American F-16s to maintain NATO security while providing Ukrainian pilots with familiar aircraft.

Representative Jason Crowe and other lawmakers expressed bipartisan support for increasing the quality and quantity of weapons sent to Ukraine, including Soviet-era MiG fighter jets. While the Biden administration views the transfer of jets as a potential escalation, many in Congress argue it is necessary to "close the skies." Military experts cited by Defense One remain skeptical of no-fly zones, noting they rarely achieve their intended goals without significant mission creep.

The logistical impossibility of transferring Soviet-era fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine via the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany is examined. Former intelligence officer Scott Ritter explains that Ukrainian airbase infrastructure has been largely destroyed, making the introduction of a new air force a rhetorical "theater" rather than a viable military strategy. Senator Jeanne Shaheen's questioning of Victoria Nuland on the matter is highlighted as political grandstanding.

Former Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter analyzes the difficulties of providing Ukraine with fighter jets. He argues that Ukrainian airbase infrastructure has been largely eliminated, making it impossible to maintain or arm new aircraft. Ritter suggests that any planes crossing the border would be immediate targets, potentially drawing NATO into the war.

Turkey reported that its F-16 jets were harassed and placed on radar lock by an unidentified MiG-29 near the Syrian border. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Russia's explanation of an "accidental" violation unacceptable, asserting that Turkey's airspace is NATO airspace. The hosts discuss the tension between the Russian pilots and Turkish forces, including the use of "radar locks" as a form of intimidation.

Egypt has reportedly reached a $3 billion arms deal with Russia for MiG-29s and helicopters, funded by Saudi Arabia, after the U.S. suspended military aid. The hosts discuss how Russia's intervention in Syria and its willingness to deal with Egypt have outflanked U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East.