Merz: Russia's violation of Polish and Romanian airspace is part of long trend of sabotage

Merz addressing the Bundestag lower house of parliament. 17th September 2025
Reuters

Russia's violation of Polish and Romanian airspace is part of a long-running trend of boundary-testing and sabotage by President Vladimir Putin, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday.

"Russia wants to insidiously destabilise our free societies," Merz told the Bundestag lower house of parliament, saying that a peace deal in the Ukraine war cannot come at the expense of Kyiv's political sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"A dictated peace, a peace without freedom, would encourage Putin to seek his next target," added Merz.

The German Chancellor made the comment as he addressed parliament on Budgetary matters urging swift action for Ukraine.

Russian drones entered Polish airspace a week ago totalling 21 incursions and violating NATO country airspace. 

One of the drones was deep enough into the Polish border to trigger the closure of several airports. 

Russia claimed that Poland was never the target of its drone deployment saying that it was a mistake. 

It was an explanation which Poland rejected. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for an emergency meeting where he activated article 4 of the NATO agreement which states “the Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened”.

Tags