Poland Considers Shooting Down Russian Missiles Over Ukraine, Pending NATO Approval

Poland is considering the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine that pose a threat to its territory while they are still in Ukrainian airspace. This idea, as mentioned by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, is being evaluated and has been included in a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine. However, Sikorski emphasized that any action would require further consideration, noting concerns over the potential damage caused by intercepted missile debris after crossing into Polish territory.

The consideration marks a departure from Poland’s previous stance on the matter. On July 10, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz had stated that Poland would not intercept Russian missiles heading towards the west of Ukraine without a decision from NATO, citing a lack of consensus within the alliance and concerns about escalating.

The discussion follows incidents like a Russian missile briefly entering Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine earlier this year. While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that allies like Poland could play a more direct role in defense by intercepting such missiles, Poland maintains that any decision to engage militarily would require NATO’s collective approval. The United States has also expressed reservations about actions that could escalate tensions with Russia.

Recent meetings between Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exploring avenues for mutual support, particularly in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts as a sovereign state.