Kiev: Poland benefits if it shoots down Russian missiles in Ukrainian airspace

(Dan Tri) - Ukraine believes that Poland's help in shooting down Russian missiles will also benefit Warsaw.

Polish soldiers during a training session using the Patriot missile defense system (Illustration photo: Global Look Press).

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has expressed displeasure with Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski over what it called "unfounded" and "unacceptable" statements, after Mr Gawkowski suggested Kiev appeared to want to drag Warsaw into a war with Russia.

Ukraine believes that Warsaw must understand that shooting down Russian missiles in the skies over Ukraine is in Poland's own best interests.

Earlier this week, speaking to ZET radio, Mr. Gawkowski criticized Ukraine for calling on the West to help Kiev defend its airspace against Russian fire. He said that if Poland shot down a Russian missile, it would mean that Warsaw was directly involved in the conflict with Moscow. He said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “wants to drag Poland” into the war.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry later refuted the Polish politician 's comments.

"We believe that shooting down Russian missiles and drones flying towards Poland on Ukrainian territory is in the security interests of Poland itself and its citizens," the statement said, adding that supporting Kiev in its fight against Russia is also "in Poland's vital interest."

Ukraine said afterward that it expected "continued positive cooperation" from Warsaw, arguing that "it is important to maintain and strengthen solidarity" between the two countries and expecting the Polish government to "share this goal".

For months, Kiev has been trying to convince NATO countries to extend their air defenses into Ukrainian territory, arguing that the West’s supply of air defense systems to Ukraine is insufficient. But last month, Mr. Zelensky admitted that the United States and its Western allies “are not yet ready” for such a step.

“We will continue to convince our partners of the need to shoot down Russian missiles and drones,” he said at the time.

Russia has repeatedly warned that the deepening involvement of Western countries in the conflict only prolongs the war without changing its outcome, and risks provoking a direct clash between Russia and NATO.

Russian officials also accused Ukraine of wanting its Western allies to engage in a direct confrontation with Moscow.

However, within Poland, there are still divided opinions on whether Warsaw should shoot down Russian missiles. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has repeatedly expressed hope that NATO will allow Warsaw to use its air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine if they pose a threat to Poland.

Warsaw and Kiev signed a defense pact in July that includes discussions on the rationale and feasibility of intercepting Russian missiles and drones, but Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has insisted that this would not be done without NATO approval.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/kiev-ba-lan-co-loi-neu-ban-roi-ten-lua-nga-tren-khong-phan-ukraine-20241107082416132.htm