Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski emphasized Poland's responsibility to protect its airspace, even as concerns mount about the implications of intercepting missiles and drones over Ukraine.
Self-Defense is Justified
Sikorski asserted that Poland and its neighboring countries have a "duty" to shoot down Russian missiles before they enter their airspace, regardless of NATO's opposition, according to Hotnews.
He believes that intercepting hostile missiles in self-defense is justified, particularly when the risk of debris harming civilians increases as they approach Polish territory.
This summer, Poland signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, which includes evaluating the feasibility of intercepting incoming threats in Ukrainian airspace. However, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has rejected the proposal, warning that it could draw the alliance into direct conflict.
Could Provoke Russian Retaliation
Sikorski's comments follow an incident on August 26, when a drone believed to be Russian entered Polish airspace. Authorities are still searching for the drone, which may have returned to Ukraine after deviating during a massive Russian assault. The minister stressed that the potential for civilian casualties necessitates action to intercept missiles at higher altitudes over Ukraine.
Western officials express concerns that such a policy could provoke Russian retaliation. Ukraine has urged its allies to increase support, including air defense coverage over Western Ukraine from NATO territory, and has repeatedly called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which NATO has refused to implement.
Despite these tensions, some analysts believe NATO's stance may evolve. Mikola Nazarov from the Globsec think tank in Kyiv noted, "We've seen that some red lines can be moved," referring to recent decisions by Western capitals to send long-range missiles, modern tanks, and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
