Donald Tusk, Poland’s Prime Minister, has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin on Monday, vowing to shoot down foreign objects violating Polish airspace. Speaking days after Russia drones strayed into his country’s airspace, Mr Tusk told a press conference: “We will make decisions to shoot down flying objects without hesitation when they violate our territory. There is simply nothing to discuss here.”
Mr Tusk highlighted the challenge of identification, stating: “It’s not like the Russians informed us how many drones entered.” He noted some objects were civilian drones but affirmed vigilance. He added: “At this moment, there is no reason to believe any of these objects pose a threat.”
Tensions have soared in recent days, with Russian warplanes also making incursions into Estonian airspace, posing a genuine conundrum for NATO in terms of how to respond.
Meanwhile Russia and Ukraine swapped accusations of deadly drone strikes on civilian areas of their countries Monday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky anticipated UN General Assembly in New York, where the Security Council was expected discuss the more than three-year war.
Mr Zelensky has tried to give momentum to a US-led peace effort, offering a ceasefire and a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has taken issue with some of the proposals, however, and an end to the bloodshed appears no closer.
Additionally, international concerns have mounted recently that the fighting could spread beyond Ukraine’s borders as European countries rebuked Russia for what they said were provocations.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said on social media that Russia was testing NATO’s political and military response and aiming to reduce Western support for Ukraine by compelling countries to redirect resources toward the defense of alliance countries.
Russia was doing just enough not to cross a red line, but things could still spiral, Mr Rinkevics added.
He was due to attend the annual high-level gathering at the UN General Assembly, where he planned to recruit support for efforts to stop Russia’s invasion.
Posting on Telegram, he said: “The schedule already includes nearly two dozen meetings with leaders from different countries, from all parts of the world.”
Mr Zelensky said he also planned to meet with US President Donald Trump, whose drive for a peace deal after taking office in January has yielded no progress, adding: “It is vital that this week strengthen the world’s resolve for robust action — for without strength, peace will not prevail.”
He said that over the past week Russia fired more than 1,500 strike drones, 1,280 glide bombs and 50 missiles of various types at Ukraine.
More than 132,000 foreign components were found in those weapons from dozens of countries, Mr Zelensky said.
A Russian ballistic missile attack was reported in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Monday morning.
