Poland is contemplating a proposal from Ukraine to intercept Russian rockets that are on course to hit cities in Ukraine or enter Polish territory. This decision comes as Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski addressed the issue during a speech at the American Enterprise Institute on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Sikorski highlighted that Russian missiles breach Polish airspace, albeit unintentionally, as they fly along the Polish border through Belarusian airspace before briefly entering Polish territory for about 40 seconds before reaching their targets in Ukraine.
The dilemma faced by Poland is the risk posed by debris when intercepting these missiles only after they enter Polish airspace. The Ukrainian proposal suggests intercepting the missiles over Ukrainian airspace when they are in imminent danger of crossing into Polish territory, a move seen as an act of self-defense.
During a recent visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Warsaw, a security cooperation agreement was signed between the two countries, which included discussions on the possibility of Poland intercepting Russian missiles.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that any decision to intercept Russian missiles would require the approval of NATO allies. He stated that Poland would not take such action unilaterally without the support of NATO.
As of now, the idea of intercepting Russian missiles remains under consideration, with both Poland and Ukraine exploring the feasibility of such a strategy. The decision to proceed with intercepting Russian rockets would ultimately depend on the consensus reached among NATO members.
