Poland Calls Urgent Defense Meeting After Alleged Russian Missiles Kills 2 Polish Soldiers
Poland’s Prime Minister has called an urgent defense meeting after alleged Russian missiles have killed two of its soldiers. There are concerns that the attack is likely to trigger NATO’s collective defense principles, which include defending all member countries against attacks by other nations. The principles were invoked in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Poland has increased the readiness of its armed forces in response to the incident. The government is also considering invoking Article 4 of the founding treaty of NATO. The move comes amid growing concern over the alleged Russian missiles’ deadly impact in eastern Poland. The Russian military has denied the incident, saying the incident was a “deliberate provocation.”
The Pentagon is investigating reports that Russian missiles attacked Poland’s eastern border. Polish media reported that two Polish soldiers were killed, but the government could not yet confirm the reports. The Polish government and NATO are working with each other to collect more information and determine next steps. The Associated Press and the Pentagon said they could not confirm or deny whether the missiles were fired from Russia.
During the attack, Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles. Several cities were left without electricity, and the power grid was damaged. The president of Ukraine had earlier called for world leaders to convene a defense meeting to resolve the crisis.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed the G20 summit virtually. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was also present. Zelenskyy also ruled out further peace talks along the lines of the “Minsk” agreements. The agreements, brokered by Germany and France, were meant to stop the pre-war conflict in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces had opposed pro-Russian separatists.
The UN commission on Human Rights has found that both Russia and Ukraine tortured prisoners of war. Its findings were based on interviews with over 100 prisoners. The commission also found that both countries had “unacceptable levels of impunity” for crimes against civilians.
Russia also caused massive power outages in Ukraine, forcing rescue and repair crews to work in darkness. Despite these issues, Moldova’s president condemned Russia for this new attack and summoned its envoy to demand an explanation.
At the G20 summit, most members condemned the escalation of violence in Ukraine, saying it is dangerous and exacerbates already fragile global economies. Inflation, disruption of supply chains, and increased risks to food, energy, and financial stability were among the concerns discussed. The communique has been endorsed by the highest public officials of all G-20 nations and is expected to be approved by the heads of state before the summit ends.
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