Poland Rejects Trump's Suggestion That Russian Drone Incursions 'Could Have Been a Mistake'

Poland rejected on Sept. 12 a suggestion by Mr. Donald Trump that Russian drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, a rare contradiction of the US president from one of Washington’s closest European allies.

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WARSAW – Poland rejected on Sept. 12 a suggestion by Mr. Donald Trump that Russian drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, a rare contradiction of the US president from one of Washington’s closest European allies.

Poland, backed by aircraft from other NATO countries, shot down drones that violated its airspace on Sept. 10, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Russia said its forces had been attacking Ukraine at the time and that it had not intended to hit any targets in Poland.

Mr. Trump told reporters in Washington on Sept. 11: “It could have been a mistake.”

But Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded on social media platform X: “We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it.”

After strong condemnation of Russia by European leaders over the incident, Germany said it had extended air policing over Poland.