UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – British PM Keir Starmer condemns Russian President Vladimir Putin’s drone strikes as Poland shoots down Russian UAVs, calling the attacks a NATO threat.
As reported by The Standard, Sir Keir Starmer denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions as “reckless” after Poland shot down drones entering its airspace during Ukraine strikes.
Keir Starmer’s views on Vladimir Putin’s drone attacks
Sir Keir Starmer slammed a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, saying,
“This morning’s barbaric attack on Ukraine and the egregious and unprecedented violation of Polish and NATO airspace by Russian drones is deeply concerning. This was an extremely reckless move by Russia and only serves to remind us of President Putin’s blatant disregard for peace, and the constant bombardment innocent Ukrainians face every day.”
He stated,
“I have been in touch with the Polish Prime Minister this morning to make clear our support for Poland, and that we will stand firm in our support for Ukraine. My sincere thanks go to the NATO and Polish forces who rapidly responded to protect the Alliance.”
Mr Starmer added,
“With our partners – and through our leadership of the Coalition of the Willing – we will continue to ramp up the pressure on Putin until there is a just and lasting peace.”
What did Poland’s military say about Russian drone attacks?
According to Poland’s military, Russian drones repeatedly violated its airspace from western Ukraine.
The military confirmed over 10 objects were detected by Polish radars, and those posing a threat were neutralised.
It stated in a statement,
“Some of the drones that entered our airspace were shot down. Searches and efforts to locate the potential crash sites of these objects are ongoing.”
The forces instructed locals to remain indoors, naming Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin as the highest-risk areas, adding,
“This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.”
Ukrainian air force’s stance on Russia’s drone attack
Ukraine’s air force confirmed Russia launched 415 drones, one ballistic missile, and 42 cruise missiles overnight.
They said it intercepted 386 drones, 27 cruise missiles, adding,
“At least eight enemy UAVs crossed the Ukrainian state border flying in Poland’s direction.”
What did Donald Tusk say about Russian drone strikes?
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russian drones massively violated Polish airspace last night.
He added,
“Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down. I am in constant communication with the Secretary General of NATO and our allies.”
Mr Tusk asked parliament to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, stating,
“The fact that these drones, which posed a security threat, were shot down changes the political situation. Therefore, allied consultations took the form of a formal request to activate Article 4 of the NATO Treaty.”
He added,
“This is not just a war for Ukrainians. This is a confrontation that Russia has declared against the entire free world.”
What did Volodymyr Zelensky say about Russian drones targeting Poland?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said eight Russian drones struck Poland amid overnight attacks with 415 drones and 40+ missiles.
He said,
“Today there was another step of escalation – Russian-Iranian ‘shaheds’ operated in the airspace of Poland, in NATO airspace.”
Mr Zelensky added,
“It was not just one ‘shahed’ that could be called an accident, but at least eight strike drones aimed toward Poland.”
What did Dick Durbin say about Putin’s drone attacks on NATO airspace?
In the US, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin warned Russian drones violating NATO airspace show “Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations.”
He added,
“After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored.”
What did Simon Harris say about Donald Trump joining the EU-Russia sanctions?
Ireland’s Deputy PM Simon Harris warns Russia’s airspace breaches are a “wake-up call” and urges US President Donald Trump to join EU sanctions against Moscow.
He said,
“We’ve heard President Trump talk many times about considering sanctions and thinking about sanctions. In our view, the time for thinking about them is over.”
Mr Harris said Europe plans tougher sanctions on Moscow but warned Mr Putin’s “campaign of terror” is escalating after US-Russia Alaska talks.
He added,
“While the world talks about peace, talks about de-escalation, talks about finding an end to the Russian aggression in Ukraine – President Putin continues his campaign of terror against the civilian population in Ukraine, and last night, escalated that further by the launching of many drones into Poland.”
Key facts about Articles 4 and 5 of the NATO treaty
Article 4 allows NATO to address threats early, before they escalate into armed attacks that might trigger Article 5. It is primarily a political tool for dialogue and deterrence.
Article 5 involves collective defence with potential military action, requiring unanimous consent from all allies.
Both articles emphasise alliance coordination. Invoking Article 5 does not automatically grant authority to use force, as national legal processes must be followed.