Poland downs drones, the first NATO member to open fire during Ukraine war

On Wednesday, Poland shot down drones in its airspace, aided by military aircraft from NATO allies. This marked the first instance of a NATO member firing shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed parliament, describing the incident as "the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two." However, he emphasised that he did not believe the situation was approaching full-scale war.

Moscow denied any involvement, with a senior diplomat claiming the drones had come from Ukraine. European leaders, who have been trying to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to join them in imposing tighter sanctions on Russia and increasing support for Kyiv, argued that the attack justified a collective response. No immediate reaction came from Washington.

Large-Scale Provocation: Poland's Response

Poland reported that 19 objects had entered its airspace during a large Russian air assault on Ukraine. The drones that posed a threat were shot down, and Tusk labelled the event a "large-scale provocation." He invoked NATO’s Article Four, which allows member states to demand consultations when they feel their security is threatened.

NATO confirmed that it was not treating the incident as an attack but as a deliberate incursion. Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS surveillance planes, and NATO-operated refuelling aircraft participated in the operation.

Russia Denies Involvement

Russia’s charge d’affaires in Poland, Andrey Ordash, rejected accusations of an incursion, calling them "groundless" and questioning the evidence provided by Poland. The Kremlin refrained from directly commenting on the downing of the drones but accused the EU and NATO of routinely accusing Russia without offering supporting evidence.

EU and NATO Leaders Call for Action

NATO’s Mark Rutte said that a full assessment of the incident was still pending but condemned the actions as "absolutely reckless" and "absolutely dangerous."

In response, European Union High Representative Josep Borrell stressed that Russia’s actions were escalating rather than subsiding. "We must raise the cost on Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s defence," said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat.

A Dangerous Precedent for Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the drone attacks on Poland as "an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe" and called for a joint response from Ukraine, Poland, all European nations, and the United States.

Increasing Sanctions on Russia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for additional sanctions on Russia, particularly targeting the ‘shadow fleet’ that transports Russian oil and third countries purchasing it.

President Trump, who had previously met Putin in Alaska, indicated that he was ready to enter the second phase of sanctioning Russia following extended negotiations regarding a peace deal. This suggests a potential escalation of pressure on Moscow or its oil buyers in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

A New Phase in Western Sanctions

The European Union's top sanctions official has been in Washington this week to discuss coordinated actions. If implemented, this would mark the first time since Trump’s return to office that the U.S. and Europe would jointly target Russia.

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