Polish Foreign Minister Says Warsaw Has Constitutional Duty To Shoot Down ‘Hostile Missiles’ in Ukrainian Airspace

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski wants Polish air defenses to shoot down missiles and drones over western Ukraine. He told Britain’s Financial Times in an interview that Warsaw had an obligation to ensure the safety of its citizens, regardless of fears that interceptions over Ukrainian territory could embroil the Atlantic Alliance in Russia’s war against Ukraine. “Membership in NATO does not trump each country’s responsibility for the protection of its own airspace—it’s our own constitutional duty,” Sikorski said. “I’m personally of the view that, when hostile missiles are on course of entering our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defense [to strike them], because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant.”