Poland Has Duty to Shoot Down Russian Missiles Over Ukraine, Says Polish Foreign Minister

Radosław Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, has stated that Poland and other countries bordering Ukraine have a “duty” to intercept Russian missiles before they enter their airspace, despite NATO’s opposition.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Sikorski emphasized that Warsaw must prioritize the safety of its citizens, even if intercepting missiles over Ukrainian territory could risk involving NATO in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Membership in NATO does not override each country’s responsibility to protect its own airspace—it’s our constitutional duty,” Sikorski said. He argued that it would be legitimate self-defense to strike hostile missiles on course to enter Polish airspace, as the risk of debris causing injuries once they cross into Polish territory is significant.

Earlier this summer, Poland signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, committing both countries to explore the feasibility of intercepting missiles and UAVs in Ukrainian airspace that are aimed at Poland, following agreed procedures. However, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg rejected the proposal, citing the risk of the alliance “becoming part of the conflict.”

Kyiv has been urging its Western allies to increase their involvement in the war, including providing air defense cover over Western Ukraine from batteries stationed on NATO territory, and has repeatedly called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine—requests that NATO has declined to avoid direct conflict with Russian forces.

Many Ukrainians, however, hope that NATO’s position might shift. “We’ve seen that some red lines can be moved,” said Mykola Nazarov, a security analyst with the Globsec think-tank in Kyiv, referring to Western decisions to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, modern tanks, and F-16 fighter jets. Nazarov noted that Ukraine is pushing for Poland’s intervention because it lacks the air resources to fully cover its territory, especially in Western Ukraine.

Sikorski also commented on Ukraine’s ongoing military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, which began on August 6, noting that it was too early to assess its military success. Nonetheless, he welcomed the operation as a way to unsettle Russian President Vladimir Putin and demonstrate that “the victim doesn’t always do what you expect.” He stressed that the West should continue to keep Putin off balance, criticizing the tendency of Western countries to signal their military intentions in advance.

Looking ahead to the US presidential election, Sikorski suggested that European leaders should work harder to convince the American public and its politicians that Europe is actively contributing to international security. “We have a good story to tell: not only are we spending more on defense, but we are actually spending more on Ukraine than the United States,” he said, highlighting Europe’s combined military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Sikorski reiterated Poland’s right to intercept missiles after a suspected Russian drone crossed into Polish territory on August 26. Polish authorities are currently searching for the UAV, which may have returned to Ukrainian territory after straying off course during a large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukraine. Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, other missiles have also landed in Poland, and Russian drones have recently entered Romania’s airspace.

Sikorski noted that the risk of Polish casualties increases the closer a missile is to its target when intercepted, making it preferable to shoot it down at a higher altitude over Ukraine. “Ukrainians have told us: you’re welcome,” he added.