Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday called for tougher Western response to Russia’s violation of NATO airspace after over a dozen Russian drones breached Poland’s air space.
“There are more than enough statements, but there is still a shortage of actions. The Russians are testing the limits of what is possible. They are testing reactions,” Zelenskiy said on Wednesday shortly after NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones that crossed Poland’s airspace early Wednesday. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said nineteen Russian drones breached his country’s airspace.
“Nearly two dozen drones entered Poland, and from the Ukrainian side, they directed, it seems, less than half of the total. This was a calculated Russian operation. And we see the outcome - it was extremely difficult to deal with,” Zelenskiy said in an evening video address. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski earlier said the Russian intrusion was “deliberate” given the large number of drones. Zelenskiy reiterated the Sikorski’s statement that the Russian incursions were deliberate, stressing that Russia used both Ukrainian and Belarusian territory to push drones into Polish airspace.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian leader stated that the joint Russian-Belarusian military drills had begun in Belarus, suggesting such activity could be part of their “training plan.”
