BRATISLAVA, Aug 30 (Aljazeera) - Slovakia has agreed to have fellow NATO states Czech Republic and Poland police its skies as Bratislava withdraws its Soviet-made MiG-29s from service, potentially freeing up the old jets to send to Ukraine.

Slovakia has said it is ready to send the 11 MiG fighters to Ukraine, whose military has long relied on Soviet-era equipment and which has appealed for more supplies from NATO nations to boost its ability to battle invading Russian forces.

Slovak defence minister Jaroslav Nad told reporters at an air show on Saturday – where he met defence ministers of the Czech Republic and Poland – that Bratislava remained ready to send the planes to neighbouring Ukraine, but no deal had yet been reached, Reuters reported.

“There is a political will, and it makes sense, to help those who need help,” Nad said. “The possibility is on the table, and once there is an agreement we will inform you.”

Slovakia, with a population of 5.4 million, has already donated an S-300 air defence system, Mi-series military helicopters, self-propelled howitzers and Grad multiple-rocket launcher rockets. This week it said it would send 30 tracked infantry fighting BVP-1 vehicles.