Poland is considering the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine with the help of its air defense systems.
“This matter is being considered from a legal and technical point of view, but no decisions have been taken on this matter,” Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński told Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform on Wednesday.
The news comes amid rising tensions between Poland and Russia. Poland said Russian missiles fired at western Ukraine entered Polish airspace on several occasions. Russia countered that it was always a coincidence.
Wroński said that Ukraine approached Poland and suggested that the country use its air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory.
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The discussion on this issue started in Poland after a Russian missile fired at Ukraine entered its airspace in March. This missile entered Polish airspace near the town of Oserdów for 39 seconds.
Officials discuss legal implications of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine Wroński told Ukrinform. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ruled out that Poland would send its air defense systems to Ukraine. “In Poland, they don’t talk about it at all. There is no possibility that the Polish air defense system is outside the country’s borders,” said the spokesman.
Earlier, Poland’s deputy foreign minister said his country was considering whether to shoot down any Russian missiles that come close to its borders. “NATO is analyzing various concepts, including that such missiles should be shot down when they are very close to NATO borders,” Andrzej Szejna told Polish radio station RMF FM in March. “However, this should happen with the consent of the Ukrainian side and taking into account the international consequences.”
Jacek Siewiera, head of Poland’s National Security Agency, was in favor of his country preemptively shooting down Russian missiles headed for NATO airspace. “So far we have had a very big problem with it. This is due to formal regulations, decision-making processes and also due to a certain culture of peaceful states,” let himself be heard.
Politico reported Wednesday, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intends to ask his NATO allies to shoot down Russian missiles next month.
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