Russian drones entered Polish airspace in late August, prompting NATO secretary‑general Mark Rutte to declare the breaches accidental but unacceptable, said a report on 22 October.
Rutte calls violations unintentional
During a brief FOX News interview after a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Mark Rutte confirmed that in the last six weeks there were incursions into the airspace of Estonia and Poland. He said the incidents were “not intentional” but reckless and unacceptable. Rutte added that NATO had reacted appropriately and highlighted that “if necessary, NATO can shoot down aircraft that pose a threat,” or capture and redirect them otherwise.
Rutte‑Trump talks on Ukraine and sanctions
In a separate meeting, Rutte discussed the war in Ukraine and the latest sanctions issued by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen toward Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Trump expressed hope the sanctions would end quickly and declared that the war must finish, although he declined to issue Tomahawk missiles. He also announced a future meeting with Vladimir Putin in Budapest, to be scheduled later.
Polish airspace breach by Russian drones
On the night of 9–10 September, the highest‑level Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace was reported by the Polish Rapid Reaction Command. Rude described it as an act of aggression that posed a real threat to citizen safety, leading to the drones being shot down. Search operations were launched for debris across several voivodeships, and Poland activated Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, calling for consultative measures among member states.
Reactions from NATO and Polish officials
NATO condemned Russia’s reckless behavior and pledged a full assessment of the incident, stating that the breach was not an isolated event. Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski emphasized that the situation was “not accidental.”
