Poland firmly rejected Donald Trump’s suggestion that Russian drone incursions into its airspace could have been accidental, marking a rare instance of disagreement between the U.S. president and one of Washington’s closest European allies. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the drone attack on Poland was deliberate and not a mistake.
In response to the incursions, Poland shot down multiple drones in its airspace with the assistance of military aircraft from NATO allies. This marked the first time a Western military alliance member had fired shots during Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. The drones entered Polish airspace over several hours, and debris was found in various regions.
While U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker affirmed the defense of every inch of NATO territory following the incursion, Trump’s public comments were limited. He mentioned that the incursions “could have been a mistake” but expressed dissatisfaction with the situation.
The United Nations Security Council convened at Poland’s request to address the matter. Acting U.S. ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea affirmed Washington’s support for NATO allies in the face of airspace violations. Poland’s Secretary of State Marcin Bosacki presented evidence to the council, including photos of a downed drone with Russian markings.
Russia denied targeting Polish territory during the drone incursion, stating that the drones’ range made it physically impossible to reach Poland. A joint statement by 43 countries, including the U.S., accused Moscow of violating international law and the UN charter.
NATO announced the launch of a new mission to strengthen defense on Europe’s eastern flank in response to the drone incursions. Member countries, including France and Germany, pledged support for protecting Poland’s airspace. European officials sought to coordinate sanctions on Russia with the U.S., but the White House has not announced additional measures despite public deadlines set by Trump.
Prior to the drone incident, Poland closed its border with Belarus ahead of joint military exercises with Russia. The exercises, named “Zapad-2025,” were said to not target any specific country, according to the Kremlin. In separate developments, Russia reported intercepting and destroying Ukrainian drones and a drone attack on a Russian port causing damage.
The situation continues to escalate, with the international community closely monitoring developments in the region.
