Polish MFA on Sikorsky's missile claim: It is minister's personal opinion
Photo: Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski (Getty Images)
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s statement on the need to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine is his personal opinion and not the position of the government, states the spokesperson of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paweł Wroński.
“This is the personal opinion of Minister Sikorski, and not the position of the Polish government,” Wroński said.
He explained that Sikorski believes that to protect Polish citizens and prevent disasters, all possible measures should be used, and defending the airspace is a state responsibility.
At the same time, the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles and drones at significant altitudes in Ukrainian airspace should be “an element for Polish military assessment, and this applies to each specific case.”
“If we have such an opportunity and Ukraine agrees, we should use it. But this is Minister Sikorski’s personal opinion,” he added.
Background
According to the Financial Times, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that Poland, along with Ukraine’s neighboring partners, is obligated to shoot down Russian missiles that are in Ukrainian airspace before they enter NATO airspace.
Sikorski explained that Poland must ensure the safety of its citizens, despite concerns that intercepting missiles over Ukrainian territory could potentially involve NATO in a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine.
"Membership in NATO does not trump each country’s responsibility for the protection of its own airspace — it’s our own constitutional duty... I’m personally of the view that, when hostile missiles are on course of entering our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defense [to strike them] because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant," he added.
