Sikorsky: Poland considers shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
Poland views the Ukrainian proposal to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine near Polish territory before they enter Polish airspace as an act of self-defense.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Warsaw is considering a Ukrainian proposal to shoot down Russian missiles close to Polish territory while they are still in Ukrainian airspace. His words are quoted by the BBC, UNN reports.
Details
Sikorsky noted that it is currently an idea, but the country is studying it.
According to him, some Russian missiles, close to the Polish border, crossed Belarusian airspace and entered Polish airspace for about 40 seconds. He acknowledged that such a short period leaves Poland little time to react.
However, the proposal theoretically covers any missile traveling through western Ukraine toward Poland. Sikorski noted that the dilemma is that if the country shoots down missiles in its own airspace, the debris will pose a threat to Polish citizens and property.
According to him, Ukrainians do not mind Poland shooting down missiles over Ukrainian territory. He considers Poland's shooting down missiles over Ukraine to be "self-defense" and is currently just an idea.
Addendum [1
Sikorski said the Russian missile landed near his home in Bydgoszcz, about 500 km from the Belarusian border, without causing any harm, in December 2022. Two Polish citizens were killed by falling debris when Ukraine shot down a Russian missile near the Polish border a month earlier.
This proposal was included in the joint defense agreement between the two countries, signed during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Warsaw.
