US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday described the recent incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace as unacceptable, while noting it was still unclear whether Moscow had deliberately targeted Poland.
NATO announced on Friday that it would bolster defences along Europe’s eastern flank after Poland shot down drones that violated its airspace. It marked the first known instance of a NATO member firing during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“We think it’s an unacceptable and unfortunate and dangerous development,” Rubio told reporters before departing on a trip to Israel and Britain.
“No doubt about it: the drones were intentionally launched. The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically,” he said.
Rubio added, “if the evidence leads us there, then obviously that’ll be a highly escalatory move.” He also cautioned that “there are a number of other possibilities as well, but I think we’d like to have all the facts and consult with our allies before we make specific determinations.”
ZELENSKYY ON REDUCING CONSUMPTION OF RUSSIAN OIL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took it to his account on X to urge nations to reduce the consumption of Russian oil.
“It is necessary to reduce the consumption of Russian oil, and this will definitely reduce Russia’s ability to fight. We can hear the position of the US, and this position should be heard by all who still choose supplies from Russia rather than from other partners.”
On Friday, Poland rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the incursions might have been a mistake. In a rare public contradiction of Washington, Poland’s foreign minister told Reuters the country hoped the US would take steps to demonstrate solidarity with Warsaw.
At the United Nations, the US described the airspace violations as “alarming” and vowed to “defend every inch of NATO territory.”
Russia acknowledged carrying out strikes in Ukraine at the time of the incidents but said it had not intended to hit targets inside Poland.
– Ends
With inputs from Reuters
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