( Spanish) — It has not yet been clarified who launched the “Russian-made missiles” that, according to the Polish authorities, hit the east of the country, near the border with Ukraine. However, the rejection and warnings from several NATO countries did not wait, as the projectiles fell on the territory of a member country at approximately the same time as Russia launched its biggest wave of missile attacks against Ukrainian cities in more than a month
Following reports of the explosion, authorities in Poland called an emergency meeting with national security officials and said they are preparing some units for combat. In addition, the country is considering asking NATO members to discuss article 4, which establishes that the allies will consult when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.
If investigations show that the missiles came from Russia, the implications could be “very serious” for what happens to the war in Ukraine. Polish President Andrzej Duda clarified that it is not known who launched the missile that caused the explosion, although he stressed that “it was probably produced in Russia.”
The Russian Defense Ministry, for its part, denied attacking the Polish-Ukrainian border. In a brief statement, he said that the reports about “the alleged missile drop” was a “deliberate provocation to escalate the situation.”
This has been the reaction to the explosion in Poland that claimed the lives of two people.
The US “will defend every inch of NATO territory”
US President Joe Biden, who is in Bali for the G20 summit, spoke by phone with Polish President Andrzej Duda after reports of the missile impact. In the conversation, Biden “expressed deep condolences for the loss of life in eastern Poland,” according to the White House.
In the call, Biden offered the support and assistance of the United States for the investigation and reaffirmed the country’s “iron” commitment to NATO. According to the reading of the call, both leaders agreed that their teams “will remain in close contact to determine the appropriate next steps as the investigation progresses.”
Hours earlier, the US Department of Defense Press Secretary, General Pat Ryder, said that they were aware of the press reports about the missile fall, but they waited for more information to corroborate and did not rush. to point directly at Russia.
The US Department of Defense Press Secretary also said: “When it comes to our security commitments and Article 5, we have been very clear that we will defend every inch of NATO territory.”
UK is in “close contact” with its allies
The United Kingdom remains in the same line as the US and assured that it is “in close contact” with the allies after the reports of the events, according to a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office.
“We are looking into these reports and working closely with allies,” a spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told .
France is “extremely cautious”
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for talks at the G20 summit following reports of rockets or missiles hitting Poland, according to an Elysee Palace spokesman.
“The president has been in contact with the Polish leadership and is being kept informed of developments in the situation,” the spokesman said.
A French defense source told that France was being “extremely cautious” and that officials would not comment until they could “analyze all available information.”
“We are in close contact with the Polish authorities,” the defense source said.
Italy is closely following the events and maintains contact with the allies
Meanwhile, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a tweet that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also called Farnesina, is closely monitoring developments in Poland and is in close contact with NATO allies. .
“Farnesina is following the events in Poland with the utmost attention, in constant contact with Defense, European countries and NATO allies,” Tajani said. “My condolences to the families of the victims. I am close to the Polish people.”
Zelensky: “Terror is not limited to our borders”
Who has pointed directly to Russia is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and described the fall of missiles on Polish territory as a “significant escalation.”
“What happened today is what we have warned for a long time. We have talked about this, terror is not limited to our national borders. It is already spreading to the territory of Moldova. And today Russian missiles hit Poland. On the territory of our friendly country. People died,” Zelensky said.
More NATO allies react
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will chair an emergency meeting of NATO ambassadors on Wednesday morning in Brussels to discuss “this tragic incident,” NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told on Tuesday.
Another NATO member, Estonia, called reports that missiles had landed inside Poland “very worrying.” The Estonian Foreign Ministry commented on Twitter: “The latest news from Poland is the most worrying. We are consulting closely with Poland and other allies.”
“We fully stand in solidarity with our close ally Poland,” he added.
The Baltic states also reaffirmed their solidarity with Poland.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on social media: “Worrying news from Poland tonight about at least two explosions.”
“Lithuania stands in solidarity with Poland”.
“Every inch of NATO territory must be defended!”
For his part, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, declared on Tuesday that he “firmly supports our ally of the European Union and NATO”, Poland, waiting for the Polish authorities to confirm the fall of rockets or missiles in the country.
“If Poland confirms that the missiles also landed on its territory, it will be a new escalation by Russia. We strongly support our EU and NATO ally,” Fiala said in a tweet. “Today’s massive missile attacks by the Russian army against Ukraine clearly show that Russia wants to further terrorize her people and destroy the country,” Fiala added.
With reporting from ‘s Saskya Vandoorne, Pierre Bairin and Valentina Di Donato.
