US president Joe Biden and key European leaders urged caution after a rocket struck a Polish village just over the border from Ukraine, keen to avoid the incident spiralling into a major drama with Russia.
US officials said initial findings suggest the missile that hit Poland was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian missile.
It comes after US President Joe Biden said it is “unlikely” the missile that killed two people in Nato-ally Poland was fired from Russia, but pledged support for Poland’s investigation into what it had called a “Russian-made” missile.
Three US officials said preliminary assessments suggested the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian one amid the crushing salvo against Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure on Tuesday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
The attack, which killed two people at a village about 6 kilometres from the frontier with Ukraine late on Tuesday, comes as tensions are already high with Russia over its February invasion of Ukraine.
Asked if the rocket that reached Poland had been fired from Russia, Biden told reporters in Bali, where he is attending the Group of 20 summit, “there is preliminary information that contests that.” Given the trajectory of the rocket it was unlikely it was fired from Russia, he added, “but we’ll see.”
The incident in Poland is an attempt to provoke a direct clash between Russia and NATO, the head of the permanent mission of Russia to the United Nations said on Wednesday.
“There is an attempt to provoke a direct military clash between NATO and Russia, with all the consequences for the world,” Dmitry Polyansky said on his Telegram channel.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan cautioned against allegations the missiles that fell in Poland had originated from Russia despite Moscow’s denials, telling the Group of 20 summit that it was an act of “provocation.”
Mr Erdogan said alleging the missiles that fell in Poland had originated in Russia despite Moscow’s denial is an act of “provocation” that is not right and should be avoided.
“I respect the statement made by Russia,” Erdogan said at G-20. “Russia’s saying that ‘we have nothing to do with this’ is important for us.”
He added that as soon as he gets back, he will get on the phone with Putin for a dialog. (IrishIndependent)