Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has called for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, citing recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace as evidence of a growing threat. This plea, made on Monday, emphasizes the need for collective security measures to protect Europe from potential attacks by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
During a press conference, Sikorski highlighted last Wednesday’s incident when 19 Russian projectiles were detected entering Warsaw’s airspace. He described this as a deliberate act by Russia to challenge the Western defense alliance. “We as NATO and the EU could be capable of doing this, but it is not a decision that Poland can make alone,” he stated, urging NATO allies to take action. He further explained that enhanced protection for Polish citizens could be achieved by intercepting drones before they enter national airspace.
The notion of a no-fly zone was first proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky warned that Ukraine was ill-equipped to counter Russia’s extensive aerial bombardments, a situation that has persisted throughout the conflict. “To establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine is to save people,” he told the U.S. Congress at the time. Despite these appeals, former President Joe Biden and European leaders have resisted implementing such a measure, fearing it could escalate into a broader conflict with Russia.
Sikorski’s remarks come on the heels of a worrying trend, with Russian drone activity increasing significantly over the past three years. Recent incidents have underscored the urgency of addressing these threats. In one notable case, a drone crashed onto the roof of a Polish retiree’s home while he and his wife were watching live news coverage of the airspace breach. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from this incident.
While Polish authorities managed to intercept most of the drones during the recent incursion, at least two were recovered over a hundred miles from the eastern border. Following this, Romania was compelled to scramble its own fighter jets after a Russian drone entered its airspace during an attack on Ukraine.
Moscow, for its part, has denied any intentional targeting of Poland, characterizing the drone incidents as accidents and accusing NATO of overreacting. This exchange highlights the delicate balance of regional security and the ongoing tensions between Russia and NATO member states.
As the situation develops, the prospect of NATO taking a more active role in the conflict remains uncertain. The call for a no-fly zone reflects a growing concern among Eastern European nations regarding Russian military capabilities and the potential for further incursions into NATO territory.
