The Presidents of Poland and Lithuania, Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nauseda, noted that there is an ongoing discussion within NATO about the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles that pose a potential threat to the Allies even before they cross NATO airspace.
Telewizja wPolsce24 reporter Żaklina Skowrońska asked the presidents of Poland and Lithuania whether missiles that could enter Polish and NATO airspace should be shot down. Both presidents were also asked to comment on the information about the dismissal of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba.
Nauseda, who began a two-day official visit to Poland on Wednesday, stressed that discussions are ongoing within NATO about shooting down such missiles. He noted that in this case it would be important to determine exactly at what point the missile crossed the border of a particular country and whether this actually happened. He noted that in the case of missiles and drones, the security of a particular Allied country is of paramount importance. He noted that such objects can be destroyed if necessary.
As he said, there is a second issue: the possible downing of objects that are still over the territory of a non-NATO country but could pose a risk to the security of a NATO country.
NATO countries have started a discussion on this issue. Today we cannot say that this discussion is over and that we have achieved some specific results, but our countries, together with other countries, initiate such discussions and want this decision to be taken primarily at NATO level.
– takes note of the President of Lithuania.
Kułeba’s resignation
He added that he would not comment on Minister Kułeba’s resignation, as he usually does not comment on decisions about the internal affairs of other countries. He noted that this is part of “a certain political reset” in Ukraine, which has been announced for some time.
Andrzej Duda stressed that he agrees with Nauseda on both issues. He recalled that in February, at a meeting in Paris, Poland presented a proposal that it would be possible at the Alliance level “to consider this and no other form of support for Ukraine, and at the same time to strengthen the security of NATO countries, which, if we were to observe Russian missiles or drones over the territory of Ukraine, which could potentially pose a threat to the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance, it could be considered that the armed forces of the Alliance would not be able to use neutralizing means against these missiles, that is, shoot them down over the territory of Ukraine.
He added that this proposal was met with great applause from the Ukrainian authorities. At the same time, he noted that within NATO different leaders had different positions on this issue.
And this issue is still being discussed
– he pointed out.
He stressed that no other solution had been discussed than the assumption that the shooting would take place from the territory of a NATO country.
Another scenario was not even discussed
– Andrzej Duda noted.
Regarding Kułeba’s resignation, Duda stressed that this was an internal matter of Ukraine. He noted that ministers – unlike heads of state, who are appointed for a term – are sometimes replaced. Therefore, he stressed that changing one or another minister in a particular country is not unusual.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk announced that the Council had received a letter of resignation from the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba. The resignation of Kułeba, who began his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2003, will be discussed at one of the next plenary sessions.
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MD/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.