US President Joe Biden has disputed Volodymyr Zelensky’s claim that a missile that struck Poland on Tuesday was not from Ukraine.
Two people were killed when the device hit an area of Przewodow, a village about 6km from Poland’s border with Ukraine, on Tuesday.
The missile was initially thought to be from Russia, sparking fears of a dramatic escalation in Vladimir Putin’s war - but it was announced on Wednesday it was “likely” fired by Ukraine, in a bid to defend itself from Russian cruise missile attacks.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday rejected claims the missile was Ukrainian.
“I have no doubt that it was not our missile,” he said, according to the Interfax Ukraine news agency.
But Mr Biden told reporters at the White House after returning from the G20 in Bali: “That’s not the evidence.”
Nato’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that although “preliminary analysis” suggests the missile was of Ukrainian origin, Russia was ultimately responsible because it started the war.
“An investigation into this incident is ongoing and we need to await its outcome,” he told reporters. “But we have no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack and we have no indication that Russia is preparing offensive military actions against Nato.
“Our preliminary analysis suggests that the incident was likely caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile fired to defend Ukrainian territory against Russian cruise missile attacks.”
His comments followed an emergency meeting of Nato ambassadors.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said the missile strike appeared to be an “unfortunate accident” and not an “intentional attack”.
The president’s top foreign policy advisor said on Thursday that Ukraine is likely to get access to the missile site.
“A Polish-American investigating team is on site,” Jakub Kumoch told broadcaster TVN 24.
“The Ukrainians asked for access to the site of the investigation. If both parties agree, and as far as I know there will be no objection from the American side, such access could be obtained soon.”
The explosion has been met with fear and disbelief among residents of Przewodow who are worried the most deadly conflict in Europe since World War Two could spill across the frontier at any time.
