Escalation on the horizon? Poland demands UN response after Russian drone incursions
Poland’s permanent representative to the UN urged stronger international response on Friday over suspected Russian drone incursions into Polish territory on and called it a “destabilising escalation” that threatens regional stability.
Poland demands UN response
Speaking ahead of a Security Council meeting requested by Warsaw, Krzysztof Szczerski said: “For the first time in its history, Poland has decided to request the convening of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.”
He added that the drone incursion was “yet another flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations committed by the Russian Federation while attacking the territory of Ukraine.”
He warned that the drones posed “a real threat to the civilian population, infrastructure, and aviation safety,” and stressed that the scale of this sortie—a sweeping incursion across NATO and EU airspace—was unprecedented since the full-scale war began in 2022.
“Such a provocation is profoundly disrespectful toward the collective and tireless efforts of the international community to bring an end to the war and to restore peace and stability in accordance with international law,” he said, thanking South Korea for presiding over the meeting. He repeated Poland’s demand for Russia to cease its aggression, avoid further provocations, and adhere to UN Charter principles.
Earlier this week, Poland said that its airspace was violated by drones amid overnight airstrikes between Russia and Ukraine, defining the incursion as an “act of aggression.”
The Russian Defence Ministry, for its part, denied any intention to strike targets on Polish territory during the attacks, which it claimed targeted enterprises of Kyiv’s military-industrial complex in western Ukraine.
Ukraine and US discuss new Patriot systems
Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday said that he met with US Presidential Envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv to discuss new Patriot systems and coordinated action after suspected Russian drone incursions into Poland.
Shmyhal said he briefed Kellogg on the results of the latest Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, noting “strong signals of support” from partners.
“We discussed the possibility of Ukraine’s Defence Forces receiving new Patriot systems and ammunition for them,” he said on X, adding that Ukraine also provided Kellogg’s delegation with battlefield data and information on “Russia’s provocation against Poland.”
“Such actions are a test of NATO’s response, so the allies’ answer must be coordinated and decisive,” Shmyhal stressed, while also urging stronger sanctions on Russia.
He expressed gratitude for Washington’s support and thanked Kellogg for “his personal efforts to bring closer a just and lasting peace.”
Poland earlier imposed air traffic restrictions along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine following multiple Russian drone incursions into its airspace, a move that came after Warsaw shot down suspected Russian drones with NATO support.
Is there any way Orban can block a UN response? He must be working in consultation with the Russians to obstruct assistance to Poland.