On Wednesday, September 10, Polish and NATO F-35 Raptors hastened to shoot down a swath of Russian drones that entered Polish airspace. The combined Polish and NATO force shot down 19 drones.
While this is not the first time Polish airspace has been violated since the War in Ukraine began in 2022, it’s never been on such a scale before. Speaking to Parliament, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained: “This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry explained that after being jammed, some drones “lost their course,” while targeting Military industrial complexes in Western Ukraine. Disagreeing, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas explained, “Russia’s war is escalating, not ending…what Putin wants to do is test us.”
Trump’s response appeared inconclusive, writing on Truth Social: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” Continuing with reporters on Thursday, September 11, Trump stated that “It could’ve been a mistake.” Trump, in an interview with Fox News on Friday, September 12th, then explained that “I’m not going to defend anybody but they [the Russian Drones] were actually knocked down and they fell. But you should not be close to Poland anyway.”
The intrusion in Polish airspace comes in the midst of Trump’s struggle to bring both Zelensky and Putin to the discussion table, something he repeatedly promised to do during his campaign. When asked if his patience with Putin was wearing, Trump answered: “Yes, it is running out fast.”
This latest Russian incursion into NATO airspace raises fears of a possible spillover of the war and puts Trump’s delicate peace process in significant danger of collapsing.
