According to the American newspaper The Hill, bipartisan leaders of the U.S. Helsinki Commission are advocating for President Biden to authorize NATO ally Poland to expand its air defense over Ukraine to help intercept Russian missiles, framing the move as an act of self-defense. This request was outlined in a letter obtained exclusively by the publication.
Bipartisan leaders back Poland's air defense initiative
As reported by the newspaper's findings, two congressmen - Democrat Steve Cohen and Republican Joe Wilson - have approached the American president with a request “to grant Poland the authority to intercept and neutralize missiles over Ukraine, particularly those threatening to encroach upon Polish airspace.”
The newspaper highlighted that Poland is advocating for an extension of its air defense system to protect its airspace from Russian missiles and potentially assist Ukraine’s defense efforts.
This initiative follows incidents where stray missiles have entered Polish territory.
In November 2022, two Polish farmers lost their lives when a stray Ukrainian missile landed in Poland. A similar situation occurred in March when Russian missiles targeting Ukraine briefly crossed into Polish airspace.
The Hill recalled that in an interview with the Financial Times on September 1, 2024, Sikorski claimed that "Poland has a ‘duty’ to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine."
Challenges of securing Ukraine's airspace amid ongoing conflict
According to the newspaper, closing Ukraine's airspace to Russian missiles represents one of the most significant challenges in the ongoing war that began in February 2022.
While the issue of protecting Ukrainian airspace has been discussed within NATO, critics argue that the cautious approach of the Biden administration, which fears escalating the conflict, has only emboldened Putin, allowing him to launch attacks on NATO allies and continue the war against Ukraine with minimal consequences.
“In this context, Poland’s request to intercept and neutralize missiles over Ukraine is both necessary and urgent as a means of supporting Ukraine and safeguarding NATO’s borders,” was stated in a letter published in The Hill.
Sikorski highlights urgency of Poland's missile defense request
Referring to reports that bipartisan House members are urging Biden to allow Poland to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski commented that he appreciates the backing from both Republicans and Democrats for Poland’s proposal.
On the left is Chairman Joe Wilson, a Republican, and on the right is Congressman Steve Cohen, a Democrat (photo: house.gov)
Source: The Hill/X/@sikorskiradek/@HelsinkiComm
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