UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United States joined Western allies in a joint statement on Friday to express concern about Russia's drone incursion into Poland and accuse Moscow of violating
US Commits to Protect NATO Territory Following Russian Drone Incident in Poland
US Response to Russian Drone Incursion
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States told the United Nations Security Council on Friday it would "defend every inch of NATO territory" after a suspected Russian drone incursion into Poland.
Statements from US Officials
"The United States stands by our NATO allies in the face of these alarming airspace violations," acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the 15-member body.
International Reactions
The remarks appear aimed at assuaging Washington's NATO allies after U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said Russia's alleged drone incursion into Poland could have been a mistake.
Russia's Position
Shea also noted Russia has intensified its bombing campaign against Ukraine since Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska as part of his bid to broker an end to Moscow's more than three-year war in Ukraine.
Poland's Defense Measures
"These actions, now with the addition of violating the airspace of a U.S. ally – intentionally or otherwise – show immense disrespect for good-faith U.S. efforts to bring an end to this conflict," Shea said.
Poland shot down drones in its airspace on Wednesday with the backing of aircraft from its NATO allies, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine.
Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar told the Security Council: “They are aggressive and dangerous acts, as it is hard to imagine that so many drones flew so deep over Polish territory, unintentionally.”
Russia has said its forces had been attacking Ukraine at the time of the drone incursions and that it had not intended to hit targets in Poland.
"There were no targets marked on Polish territory," Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council. "The maximum range of the drones used in this strike did not exceed 700 kilometers, which makes it physically impossible for them to have reached Polish territory."
He said Moscow was willing to speak with Poland "if the Polish side indeed is interested in reducing tensions rather than fomenting tensions."
The U.S. also joined Western allies in a joint statement on Friday to express concern about Russia's drone incursion and accuse Moscow of violating international law and the founding U.N. Charter.
The statement, read by Poland's Secretary of State Marcin Bosacki ahead of the Security Council meeting, also called on Russia to stop "its war of aggression against Ukraine" and desist from further provocations.
The joint statement was backed by 43 countries.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Rod Nickel)
