Official announcements from the Polish government, NATO statements, or credible news sources

Stoltenberg Rejects Poland's Plan to Intercept Russian Missiles Without NATO Consent

Jul 14, 2024, 04:35 PM

Poland has announced that it will not intercept Russian missiles flying towards Ukraine without NATO's consent. This decision was confirmed by Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who emphasized that Poland would not act independently in such matters. The proposal to intercept missiles was included in a joint defense agreement signed during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent visit to Warsaw. However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has rejected the proposal, stating that NATO's policy remains unchanged and that the alliance will not become directly involved in the conflict. Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO will continue to support Ukraine through military assistance but will not engage in shooting down Russian missiles or aircraft. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski mentioned that the potential move is considered self-defense and discussed it following a speech at the American Enterprise Institute.