The US National Security Council reacts to the idea of shooting down Russian missiles flying toward NATO territory over Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
Michael Carpenter, a senior U.S. official, suggested that it would be more appropriate for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with air defense systems to shoot down missiles over its own territory.
Senior Director for European Affairs of the US National Security Council Michael Carpenter, speaking about the idea to shoot down missiles flying over Ukraine towards NATO territory, which includes Poland, said that he does not believe that from an operational point of view, shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine is the best approach, UNN writes with reference to RMF24.
Details
From an operational point of view, I do not believe that shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine is the best approach, Carpenter said on Wednesday during a briefing for Polish media.
"From an operational point of view, I think it would make more sense for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with air defense systems so that it can shoot down these missiles over its territory," Carpenter said.
That is why President Biden's announcement of the transfer of five strategic air defense systems is such a big deal, he added.
When asked if he was ruling out this option, he reiterated that he "doesn't know if it's the most efficient approach operationally.
Jacek Siewera, head of Poland's National Security Bureau, told RMF FM that the idea that NATO countries could shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine that also threaten their territory arose at the turn of 2023-2024. The concept was born in the country's National Security Bureau, received a positive opinion from the president and was discussed with the prime minister, the publication points out.
"This decision can only be implemented in coordination and cooperation with allies, so it should be discussed at the NATO summit," Sivera told RMF FM's correspondent in the United States.
"The idea is to minimize the risks of both anti-missiles and missiles falling on the territory of the Republic of Poland or the North Atlantic Alliance to prevent an invasion and a repeat of the Pshevodov scenario," he argued. He added that the Ukrainian side is not against such operations in its airspace.