WARSAW, Sept 10 (Reuters/AFP): Poland shot down drones in its airspace on Wednesday with the backing of military 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.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament it was "the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two", although he also said he had "no reason to believe we're on the brink of war".
Moscow denied responsibility for the incident. European leaders, who have lately been trying to persuade US President Donald Trump to join them in tightening sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Kyiv, said it justified a collective response. There was no immediate response from Washington.
Poland said 19 objects had entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine, and that it had shot down those that posed a threat. Tusk called the incident a "large-scale provocation" and said he had activated Article Four of NATO's treaty, under which alliance members can demand consultations with their allies.
NATO condemns 'Russia's
reckless behaviour'
NATO chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday slammed Moscow's "reckless behaviour" after Russian drones violated Polish airspace, and hailed the alliance's "very successful reaction" to counter the incursion.
"A full assessment is ongoing. But of course, whether it was intentional or not, it is absolutely reckless, it is absolutely dangerous," alliance chief Mark Rutte said after NATO members held emergency discussions.
Kremlin declines
to comment
The Kremlin on Wednesday declined to comment on a drone incursion into Poland, after the NATO member said it had downed several Russian drones overnight, accusing Moscow of violating its airspace during an attack on Ukraine.
"We prefer not to comment, it is not within our competence, it is the prerogative of the ministry of defence," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, including AFP, in a briefing call.
Poland was gathering its NATO allies for urgent talks on Wednesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, after Warsaw identified 19 violations of its airspace and shot down at least three drones.
