US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed concern over the reported Russian drone incursion into Poland, calling the incident troubling but suggesting it “could have been a mistake.” Speaking outside the White House, Trump said, “Regardless, I am not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation. Hopefully, it’s going to come to an end.”
Poland’s military confirmed that drones crossed into its airspace during Russian strikes on Ukraine, prompting Polish forces to shoot them down, according to CNN. This marked the first time NATO weapons were used in direct response since the start of the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that three Rafale fighter jets have been deployed to bolster Poland’s air defense. In a post on X, Macron said he had discussed the matter with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the British Prime Minister, stressing, “The security of the European continent is our top priority. We will not yield to Russia’s growing intimidation.”
Polish leaders, however, argued the incident was deliberate. Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the scale of the drone incursion pointed to intentional action by Russia. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński added that 16 drones had been detected, with debris scattered across multiple locations.
Addressing parliament, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that while Poland is not formally at war, the threat level is higher than at any time since World War II. “There was no reason to say that Poland was in a state of war, but it was closer to a conflict than any time since World War II,” Tusk said. He added that Poland faced “an enemy that does not hide its hostile intentions.”
Tusk also confirmed that Poland has invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows member states to convene and consult when their security is threatened.
