Despite statements to the contrary, support has increased and operational decisions have been made among governments of the twenty-seven member European Union (EU) and among the thirty-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to deliver 1983-then-U.S.S.R.-designed MiG-29 aircraft to the government of Ukraine.  Countries with the MiG-29 in their portfolio include Bulgaria, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Romania among others. 

A proposal in discussion is for those countries with the MiG-29 to transfer them to Slovakia.  In return, NATO would position the same number of aircraft, pilots, and support personnel at air bases in each country until replacement aircraft with greater capabilities and pilot training are delivered and completed.  The costs would be borne by NATO.  The replacement aircraft could be sourced from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Spain.     

Slovakia, which has approximately twelve operational MiG-29 aircraft, is considered the ideal candidate from which to deliver aircraft to Ukraine primarily because the Uzhhorod International Airport (UDJ) in Ukraine has a runway located one hundred yards from the Ukraine border with Slovakia and eighteen miles from the Ukraine border with Hungary.