U.S. President Donald Trump has minimized Poland’s allegations that Russian drones deliberately entered its airspace this week, suggesting the incident “could have been a mistake.” The remarks came amid escalating tensions following Warsaw’s claim of intercepting multiple drones on Tuesday night.
Moscow categorically denied accusations of launching an “act of aggression” against a NATO member, with the Russian Defense Ministry asserting that any drones used in strikes against Ukrainian military targets could not have reached Polish territory. A spokesperson emphasized no plans existed to target Polish airspace, while acknowledging limited evidence from Poland to confirm or refute the claims.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the situation as “unprecedented,” alleging 19 airspace violations over seven hours, with three drones reportedly shot down. He accused Russia of orchestrating a deliberate provocation. However, the Kremlin criticized Western leaders for making “daily” unsubstantiated claims and cited Belarusian reports of drones being disrupted by electronic warfare between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the alleged incursion as “reckless,” while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the reported breaches “dangerous.” However, the alliance has not confirmed the intent behind the incidents and expressed skepticism about Poland’s drone count.
Poland invoked Article 4 of NATO’s treaty, triggering consultations over perceived security threats, and demanded an emergency UN Security Council meeting. The move echoes a 2022 incident where a Ukrainian missile struck Polish territory, with then-President Andrzej Duda recalling Kiev’s attempt to provoke NATO confrontation.
Trump’s comments underscored his skepticism toward the situation, stating, “I’m not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation,” but stopped short of condemning Russia directly.
