Poland is still discussing possibility of shooting down Russian drones and missiles over Ukraine, - Sikorski
In Poland, discussions are still ongoing regarding Ukraine’s request that Warsaw be allowed to shoot down Russian drones and missiles over Ukrainian territory.
This was announced by Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski whilst speaking to journalists, according to Censor.NET.
Poland’s position
Sikorski noted that the rules on the use of force in Poland’s border zone with Ukraine are changing, but Poland cannot decide on its own to shoot down targets directly over Ukrainian territory.
He believes that Russian drones or missiles which pose an immediate threat to the Polish border and force the air defence system to respond may fall within the scope of the right to self-defence.
"However, as is well known, NATO has introduced an integrated defence system for its entire eastern flank. In particular, this means that the decision does not depend solely on Poland itself. So the discussion is ongoing, but we have not yet reached the decisions that would satisfy you", said the Polish Foreign Minister.
Nawrocki is not supported
- At the same time, the Office of the President of Poland stated that the country is currently unable to shoot down aerial targets outside its own territory and that of NATO, particularly in Ukraine. Such actions, it was said, would require coordination with the Alliance.
"To put it bluntly, at the moment I do not believe there is any possibility or capacity to carry out kinetic operations outside Poland, on Ukrainian territory... The Ukrainians are perfectly capable of handling this; they have excellent personnel, they know how to shoot down expensive aircraft – they simply need the equipment. If only we have the equipment, if only we have the means to transfer it, then it is precisely this equipment that has been arriving in vast quantities via Polish territory into Ukraine, and I believe this is the best option", emphasised Nawrocki’s office.
