 Slovakia can start the process of talks on delivering MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine now once Kiev has officially asked for the planes, Prime Minister Eduard Higa said on Feb. 10. Western countries that have provided Ukraine with arms have so far refused to send fighter jets or long-range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Feb. 8 he had heard from several European Union leaders at a summit that they were ready to provide Kiev with aircraft, hinting at what would be one of the biggest shifts yet in Western support for Ukraine. In case of any assistance to Ukraine, we claim a refund from the European Union. We will help Ukraine and at the same time we will get money," Higa said. The negotiations will be both internal and also with the European Commission. Defense Minister Yaroslav Nadz said the country no longer needed the jets and it could either sell them somewhere else or give them to Ukraine where the planes could help. He said no decision had been taken yet. The 12 Russian-made jets have been grounded since last summer and they are in varying conditions. The Slovak government ordered F-16 fighter jets from the United States in 2018 to replace the aging MiG-29 planes. The first US-made planes were expected to arrive last year and shipment was meant to be completed this year, but delivery is now expected to take place in 2024. Slovakia borders Ukraine in the east and has been an entry point for refugees fleeing the fighting during the near-year-long war. Bratislava has also backed Kiev with weapons and other aid, while NATO was boosting its presence in Slovakia. We have to remove this technology and we shouldn't do anything about it. We will help Ukraine in this way and we will get money for it as well. When we get the money for Ukraine, we will get it this year. We will get some financial support from the European peace system. We have received more than 82 million euros to teach the Slovak Republic from the European peace system, and we have now reached Ukraine. We will not be able to use these devices or devices. We will give them to those who can save human lives and we can get nothing back from it.