European nations have 'duty' to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, says Poland's Foreign Minister

Poland and other European nations bordering Ukraine have a “duty” to shoot down Russian missiles, said Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

The statement comes a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European nations to join hands for the aerial defence of Ukraine against Russian missiles and drones — just like the Western and Arab nations joined hands for the defence of Israel against the Iranian barrage in April.

In an interview with Financial Times, Sikorski said that Poland and other European nations bordering Ukraine have a “duty” to shoot down incoming Russian missiles before they enter their airspace despite the opposition of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The NATO is opposed to such an action as it would blur the lines regarding the involvement of Ukraine’s partners in the conflict. While the NATO and the United States are equipping Ukraine and helping with intelligence and training, they have made it clear that they would not put boots on the ground or engage the Russians directly. Sikorski told FT that the commitment to NATO did mean prevent member-states from crafting their own policies.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

“Membership in NATO does not trump each country’s responsibility for the protection of its own airspace — it’s our own constitutional duty. I’m personally of the view that, when hostile missiles are on course of entering our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defence [to strike them] because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant,” said Sikorski.

Earlier this year, Poland and Ukraine signed a bilateral security pact that had a clause about the two nations looking into the feasibility of intercepting missiles and drones heading towards Poland within Ukraine’s airspace.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Throughout the Russian war on Ukraine, missiles and drones have strayed into Polish airspace. On at least two instances, projectiles have fallen inside Poland. In 2022, a Ukrainian missile fell inside Poland while trying to intercept a Russian missile. Then, last week, a Russian drone fell inside Poland.

Sikorski highlights ‘one of biggest mistakes’ regarding Putin

In the interview with FT, Sikorski flagged “one of the biggest mistakes” the West made regarding Putin.

Sikorski said that the clarity of the West regarding its red lines has been one of the biggest mistakes regarding Putin.

Sikorski said telling Putin directly about what the West will never do in the conflict —a hint at the Western declaration to not put boots on the ground or get involved in the conflict directly— took away the chance of keeping Putin off-balance.

“Not just Ukraine but the entire west should keep Putin off balance and one of the mistakes that our side has made consistently is telling Putin in advance what we will or we will not do — and that is why the result of this [Kursk] foray is so far better than the counteroffensive last year, which was so plain to anticipate and therefore to prepare for,” said Sikorski.

In a message last month shared on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy said the United States and European partners should replicate the Middle East’s model with Ukraine as well.

“Across Ukraine, we could do much more to protect lives if the aviation of our European neighbours operated in concert with our F-16s and air defence systems. If such unity has proven effective in the Middle East, it must work in Europe too. Life holds the same value everywhere,” said Zelenskyy.