05:37Mandatory credit: Polish Presidency
Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated in a joint press conference in Warsaw on Wednesday that their forces would 'consider' shooting down Russian missiles if they pose a danger to a NATO member state.
"If we were watching Russian missiles or drones over Ukrainian territory, which could also potentially pose its danger to the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance countries, then it could be considered," Duda said.
"Different leaders have taken different positions here, although that meeting was informal," he added. "No solution other than that to shoot down this potentially threatening object would come from the territory of a NATO country."
His remarks come after Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, arguing that NATO allies bordering Kiev have the right to protect their airspace.
Meanwhile, NATO cautioned its members on shooting down Russian missiles on Monday as it could affect the organisation 'as a whole' but also acknowledged nations' right to protect their airspace and territories.
For his part, Nauseda said that this is 'a very important issue', "especially in recent times, when Russian attacks and bombings also on the territory of western Ukraine, as you mentioned, were increasingly frequent."
"Today, we cannot say that this discussion is over and we have some concrete, tangible results, but our states, together with other countries, initiate such discussions so that they take place and that such a decision should be made primarily at the NATO level," he added.
Nauseda also reiterated the countries' support for Kiev's bid to join NATO and the European Union.
Meanwhile, Duda announced plans to build security bases for Poland and Lithuania, a move he said would help "provide security for the next generation of young Poles, to the next generation of young Lithuanians [and] to the next generation of young people."
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
If Russian missiles pose a danger, we could 'consider' shooting them down - Poland, Lithuania say NATO discussions 'initiated' as alliance calls for calm
Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated in a joint press conference in Warsaw on Wednesday that their forces would 'consider' shooting down Russian missiles if they pose a danger to a NATO member state.
"If we were watching Russian missiles or drones over Ukrainian territory, which could also potentially pose its danger to the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance countries, then it could be considered," Duda said.
"Different leaders have taken different positions here, although that meeting was informal," he added. "No solution other than that to shoot down this potentially threatening object would come from the territory of a NATO country."
His remarks come after Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, arguing that NATO allies bordering Kiev have the right to protect their airspace.
Meanwhile, NATO cautioned its members on shooting down Russian missiles on Monday as it could affect the organisation 'as a whole' but also acknowledged nations' right to protect their airspace and territories.
For his part, Nauseda said that this is 'a very important issue', "especially in recent times, when Russian attacks and bombings also on the territory of western Ukraine, as you mentioned, were increasingly frequent."
"Today, we cannot say that this discussion is over and we have some concrete, tangible results, but our states, together with other countries, initiate such discussions so that they take place and that such a decision should be made primarily at the NATO level," he added.
Nauseda also reiterated the countries' support for Kiev's bid to join NATO and the European Union.
Meanwhile, Duda announced plans to build security bases for Poland and Lithuania, a move he said would help "provide security for the next generation of young Poles, to the next generation of young Lithuanians [and] to the next generation of young people."
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Mandatory credit: Polish Presidency
Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated in a joint press conference in Warsaw on Wednesday that their forces would 'consider' shooting down Russian missiles if they pose a danger to a NATO member state.
"If we were watching Russian missiles or drones over Ukrainian territory, which could also potentially pose its danger to the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance countries, then it could be considered," Duda said.
"Different leaders have taken different positions here, although that meeting was informal," he added. "No solution other than that to shoot down this potentially threatening object would come from the territory of a NATO country."
His remarks come after Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, arguing that NATO allies bordering Kiev have the right to protect their airspace.
Meanwhile, NATO cautioned its members on shooting down Russian missiles on Monday as it could affect the organisation 'as a whole' but also acknowledged nations' right to protect their airspace and territories.
For his part, Nauseda said that this is 'a very important issue', "especially in recent times, when Russian attacks and bombings also on the territory of western Ukraine, as you mentioned, were increasingly frequent."
"Today, we cannot say that this discussion is over and we have some concrete, tangible results, but our states, together with other countries, initiate such discussions so that they take place and that such a decision should be made primarily at the NATO level," he added.
Nauseda also reiterated the countries' support for Kiev's bid to join NATO and the European Union.
Meanwhile, Duda announced plans to build security bases for Poland and Lithuania, a move he said would help "provide security for the next generation of young Poles, to the next generation of young Lithuanians [and] to the next generation of young people."
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.