Poland-Russia conflict highlights: ‘Here we go,' says Trump on Poland's incursion

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Reacting to the Russia allegedly violating Poland's airspace, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!”

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Poland gathered its NATO allies for urgent talks Wednesday after Russian drones flew into Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, warning that the situation was inching closer to "open conflict".

Poland's airspace was violated 19 times, Tusk said, and at least three drones were shot down after Warsaw and its allies scrambled jets. Authorities said nobody was harmed. (AFP)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Russia said on Wednesday that Poland is spreading 'myths' about drone intrusion to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Poland has no doubt that drones flying into its territory were not an accident, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told journalists on Wednesday as Warsaw shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace during Russian attack in western Ukraine.

He added that mass use of drones is a threat to all of NATO and that Prime Minister Donald Tusk asked allies for stronger air defence for Poland. (Reuters)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Article 5 is the cornerstone of the founding treaty of NATO.

The alliance was created in 1949 with the US military as its powerful mainstay essentially to counter the Soviet Union and its eastern bloc satellites during the Cold War.

The charter stipulates that "the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all."

"They agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area," it says. (Reuters)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its overnight strikes targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial complex in the western regions of the country, with no planned targets on Polish territory.

“We are ready to hold consultations with the Polish Ministry of Defense on this issue,” the statement said. (AP)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Article 4 states that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.

Under Article 4, discussions at the North Atlantic Council - NATO’s principal political decision-making body - could potentially lead to some form of joint decision or action.

Since NATO’s creation in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked seven times, most recently in February 2022 when Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia sought consultations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

NATO ambassadors in November 2022 held an emergency meeting after a missile strike killed two people in Poland and raised global alarm that the war could spill into neighboring countries. (Reuters)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that EU members will discuss Poland drone incident today. Berlin also said that Russia is 'testing' NATO with 'very serious' Poland drone incident.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called violation of Poland's airspace by Russian drones “absolutely reckless” and added that a full assessment is going on.

"Whether it was intentionally or not, it is absolutely reckless, it is absolutely dangerous. But the full assessment is ongoing," Rutte said.

"To Putin, my message is clear. Stop the war in Ukraine. Stop violating allied airspace. And know that we stand ready, that we are vigilant, and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory," he added.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: The Kremlin on Wednesday declined to comment on a drone incursion into Poland, after the NATO member said it had downed several Russian drones overnight and accused Moscow of violating its airspace.

"We prefer not to comment, it is not within our competence, it is the prerogative of the ministry of defence," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, including AFP, in a briefing call.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: According to Russian state news agency RIA, a Russian diplomat said on Wednesday that the drones shot down by Poland in Polish airspace overnight had come from the direction of Ukraine.

"We know one thing - these drones were flying from the direction of Ukraine," Russia's charge d'affaires in Warsaw, Andrei Ordash, was quoted as saying after leaving the Polish Foreign Ministry, according to a Reuters report.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Ukrainian President Zelensky, while reacting to Russia's alleged incursion on Poland, said, "It is clear that Russian aggression poses a danger to every independent nation in our region, and therefore only joint and coordinated action can guarantee reliable security. The precedent of using combat aircraft from several European countries simultaneously to shoot down Russian weapons and protect human lives is highly significant."

"Together, Europeans are always stronger. Russia must feel that the response to this escalatory step, and even more so to an attempt to humiliate one of Europe’s key countries, will be clear and strong from all partners."

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Poland is the closest it has been to open conflict since World War Two, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday after the NATO member state shot down Russian drones over its territory.

Tusk told parliament there had been 19 intrusions into Polish airspace overnight. The incursions heightened tensions that were already simmering after previous incursions by drones.

"I have no reason to claim we're on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it's incomparably more dangerous than before," he said.

"This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two". (Reuters)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he was deeply concerned by the violation of Polish and NATO airspace by Russian drones during an air attack on Ukraine, calling it an "extremely reckless" move by Moscow.

"This morning's barbaric attack on Ukraine and the egregious and unprecedented violation of Polish and NATO airspace by Russian drones is deeply concerning," Starmer said in a statement.

"This was an extremely reckless move by Russia and only serves to remind us of (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin's blatant disregard for peace," Starmer said, adding that he had been in touch with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk on Wednesday to express British support for Poland. (Reuters)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Poland has found seven drones and parts of one missile following intrusion of drones into Polish airspace overnight, interior ministry spokesperson Karolina Galecka told a news briefing.

"Seven drones and debris of one missile of unidentified origin have been found," Galecka said. (Reuters)

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have voiced strong condemnation of Russian drones entering Polish airspace amid attacks on Ukraine.

French President Macron called the incursion “simply unacceptable” and a “reckless escalation.” "The incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace during an attack carried out by Russia against Ukraine is simply unacceptable. I condemn it in the strongest terms. I call on Russia to put an end to this reckless escalation. I reiterate to the Polish people and their government our full solidarity. I will soon speak with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. We will not compromise on the security of the Allies," Macron said in a post on X.

UK Prime Minister Starmer said he had reached out to the Polish Prime Minister on Wednesday morning to reaffirm Britain’s support. "I have been in touch with the Polish Prime Minister this morning to make clear our support for Poland," he said, reported Reuters.

"This morning's barbaric attack on Ukraine and the egregious and unprecedented violation of Polish and NATO airspace by Russian drones is deeply concerning," Starmer said in a statement.

"This was an extremely reckless move by Russia and only serves to remind us of (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin's blatant disregard for peace," Starmer said.

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban says violation of Poland’s territorial integrity is unacceptable.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace on Wednesday, marking the first time a NATO member is known to have fired during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Warsaw said 19 objects had entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine, and that it had targeted those posing a threat, reported Reuters.

PM Donald Tusk said he had activated Article 4 of NATO’s treaty, which allows alliance members to request consultations with allies.

"We are dealing with a large-scale provocation," Tusk said. "We are ready to repel such provocations. The situation is serious, and no one doubts that we must prepare for various scenarios."

Meanwhile, Russia’s RIA state news agency quoted a Russian diplomat calling the accusations "groundless" and saying Poland had not provided evidence that the drones shot down were of Russian origin.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reiterated that Russian drones were shot down over Polish territory amid ongoing airspace violations, while Russia dismissed the claims as “groundless.”

Donald Tusk praised the response, saying, “My thanks and congratulations to the Polish Operational Command and our NATO pilots for shooting down Russian drones over Poland. Actions speak louder than words.”

Moscow continues to deny any involvement, stating that “no evidence has been presented” linking the drones to Russia.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Russia’s top diplomat in Poland has been summoned to the Polish foreign ministry following the recent drone incursions, AFP reported citing Russian state media.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Russia’s charge d’affaires has claimed that Poland has not submitted evidence proving the drones shot down over its airspace were of Russian origin, reported RIA.

Russia’s Chargé d’Affaires in Poland Andrei Ordash told RIA Novosti, "We consider the accusations to be groundless. No evidence has been presented that these drones are of Russian origin.”

The statement comes amid ongoing tensions following the overnight drone incursions into Polish territory, which Warsaw described as “an act of aggression.” Polish and allied forces intercepted the drones as part of a heightened defensive operation, while NATO and EU officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: NATO’s top commander said the alliance acted promptly in response to drones that entered Polish airspace, reported Reuters.

NATO responded ‘quickly and decisively to the situation, demonstrating our capability and resolve to defend allied territory,’ the commander said.

The NATO military headquarters is maintaining close contact with Poland and other allies as the situation continues to develop, ensuring coordination and vigilance across the alliance.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Following Russian drones' incursion in Poland, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has called on the European Union to develop a "drone wall" along the eastern flank of its shared borders,

"Once again Russia tests frontier states, EU & NATO," Kubilius wrote in a post on social media platform X. "We shall work together with Member States, frontier countries and Ukraine. Russia will be stopped."

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Belarus announced on Wednesday that it had shot down drones over its airspace overnight, shortly after Poland confirmed downing several Russian drones that crossed into its territory during attacks on Ukraine, reported news agency AFP.

Belarus' army said it had "destroyed" drones that had "lost their track" as a result of what it claimed was electronic jamming and interception by both Kyiv and Moscow.

It did not specify whether the downed drones were Russian or Ukrainian but added that it had informed Poland's air force about drones that were heading towards the country.

Poland-Russia conflict live updates: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged closer cooperation on European air defence after Russian drones violated Polish airspace during overnight attacks.

Poland confirmed it had shot down drones that crossed into its territory, describing the incident as “an act of aggression.”

"Today there was another step of escalation – Russian-Iranian 'shaheds' operated in the airspace of Poland, in NATO airspace," Zelensky wrote on X. "It was not just one 'shahed' that could be called an accident, but at least eight strike drones aimed toward Poland," he added.

Zelensky said the incident underscored the urgent need for a “joint” air defence system between Ukraine and Europe to counter Moscow’s escalating attacks.