Russia and Putin · Second term · № 117
Said Russia's drone incursion into NATO member Poland 'could have been a mistake'; Warsaw said it was not
“It could have been a mistake. Could have been a mistake. But regardless, I'm not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation. But hopefully, it's going to come to an end.”
- Said
- , South Lawn of the White House, exchange with reporters
- Subject
- Russian drones over Poland
- Type
- NATO and allies
- Topic
- Foreign policy
- Era
- Second term
What happened
On the night of September 9 to 10, 2025, Russian drones crossed into Poland during a mass attack on Ukraine; Polish and Dutch fighters shot several down and Poland recovered parts of 16 or 17 drones. Poland invoked NATO's Article 4, and Germany, the EU and other allies called the incursion deliberate. Trump's first reaction was a post asking 'What's with Russia violating Poland's airspace with drones? Here we go!' Asked the next day, he said it 'could have been a mistake,' though when pressed he added he would 'condemn even for being near that line.' Prime Minister Donald Tusk replied: 'We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it.' Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk also rejected the suggestion, calling it 'a deliberate Russian attack.'