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.
Web Summit Qatar 2026 opened in Doha on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands of founders, investors, policymakers and technology leaders to what organise...
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 Feb...
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections w...
Kazakhstan’s Reform Commission has published a draft of a new Constitution that would mark the most extensive revision of the country’s law since ...
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating...
Web Summit Qatar 2026 opened in Doha on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands of founders, investors, policymakers and technology leaders to what organisers describe as one of the region’s largest digital economy gatherings.
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 February, after the meeting was postponed last week to align the schedules of all delegations.
Kazakhstan’s Reform Commission has published a draft of a new Constitution that would mark the most extensive revision of the country’s law since independence, including an absolute ban on the death penalty and more rights and freedoms for citizens.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 February, after the meeting was postponed last week to align the schedules of all delegations.
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections would not override EU law.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to organise a meeting in Ankara between White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and top Iranian officials, according to reports in the U.S. and Turkish media.
German authorities have arrested five people suspected of running a criminal network to circumvent European Union sanctions by exporting goods to at least 24 sanctioned Russian defence companies, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment