Polish Foreign Ministry Convenes Emergency Talks With Nato Allies

Jacek Siewiera, head of Poland’s national security office (left), and government spokesperson Piotr Müller make a statement after a crisis meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday evening. Photograph: Janek Skarżyński/AFP/Getty Images

Poland has held emergency talks with its NATO allies after two of its citizens were killed in what Warsaw called a "Russian-made missile" attack in rural areas near Ukraine.

The Polish Foreign Ministry said the two people died in the village of Przewodów after the rocket struck at 3.40pm local time. Photos posted on social media show a damaged farm vehicle lying on its side next to a large crater. Local media reported that the victims were farm labourers.

A Polish intelligence official told the Financial Times that investigators were investigating whether the missile was launched from Russia. If confirmed, it would be the first time a NATO country has been hit by a missile since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Russia's Defense Ministry denied responsibility, adding that the missile fired by its troops was a "deliberate provocation with the aim of aggravating the situation". Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau has summoned the Russian ambassador for "immediate detailed explanations", according to the Polish Foreign Ministry.

Russia Is Behind Poland's Explosion

The White House said US President Joe Biden, who is in Bali for a G20 leaders' summit, was "aware of the reports from Poland" and spoke with Polish President Andrzej Duda. But both the Pentagon and the US National Security Council said they could not confirm claims that Russia was behind the attack.

Duda offered his "assessment" of the blast in conversation with Biden, according to the White House, while Biden offered "the full support and assistance of the United States in the investigation into Poland" and reiterated "the unwavering commitment of Washington to NATO". NATO members such as Poland can invoke Article 5 of the transatlantic treaty, which would require defense by other NATO members.

The explosion in eastern Poland came amid a barrage of Russian missiles fired at Ukrainian cities that damaged energy infrastructure and civilian buildings. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were quick to blame Russia for the Polish attack, although they offered no concrete evidence to support the claims. "Russian missiles hit Poland," Zelenskyy said in a video address to his country on Tuesday evening, adding that Moscow fired 90 missiles at Ukraine.

Zelenskyj also spoke to Duda and later wrote in a tweet: "We have exchanged existing information and clarified all the facts. Ukraine, Poland, all of Europe and the world must be fully protected against terrorist Russia.

Leaders of several NATO countries in central and eastern Europe have warned that if the Polish investigation proves the Kremlin was behind the strike, it would mean a significant escalation in the conflict.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said: “If Poland confirms that the missiles will also hit its territory, it will be another escalation from Russia. We strongly support our ally in the EU and NATO."

"Russian missiles hitting the NATO member's territory is a very dangerous escalation by the Kremlin," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs tweeted. “Latvia expresses its full solidarity with our ally Poland and will support any action Poland deems appropriate. Russia will bear full responsibility for all consequences."

Two NATO officials told the FT that the situation within the alliance had caused concern, but not panic. Warsaw would likely activate Article 4 of the treaty, which deals with discussions of a possible threat to an alliance member, before Article 5.

Ukraine and Russia

Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks tweeted that Article 4 was "in place".

In another sign of a possible spillover, Moldova reported on Tuesday that it lost power after rocket attacks in Ukraine because a power line between the two countries was automatically cut.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called for a 'collective response' to Russian missile strikes, including a NATO summit with Ukrainian participation to work out further joint measures, including the deployment of aircraft of war.

“Today, protecting Ukrainian skies means protecting NATO,” Kuleba said.

Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukrainian Defense Minister, called on the West to provide more air defense systems to protect the country from weeks of Russian airstrikes.

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