Bipartisan lawmakers urge Biden to allow Poland shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine

The bipartisan leaders of the US Helsinki Commission have called on President Biden to grant Poland the authority to intercept and neutralize Russian missiles over Ukraine, The Hills reported on 30 October.

This comes after incidents where Ukrainian and Russian missiles have briefly crossed into Polish airspace, including in November 2022 when two Polish farmers were killed by an errant Ukrainian missile.

In a letter obtained by the outlet, Reps. Joe Wilson and Steve Cohen asked Biden “to grant Poland the authority to intercept and neutralize missiles over Ukraine, particularly those threatening to encroach upon Polish airspace.”

The request is based on Poland’s push to use and possibly extend its air defense shields, which would defend its own skies against Russian missiles and assist Ukraine’s defense.

“Poland’s request to intercept and neutralize missiles over Ukraine is both necessary and urgent as a support mechanism for Ukraine and a safeguard to the frontline of NATO’s borders,” the lawmakers wrote.

While the US and partners have sent air defense systems to Ukraine, the lawmakers argue the Biden administration has been slow to provide military aid, “allowing Russia to wage a war against the alliance with minimal consequences.”

Poland was among the first and most generous supporters of Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing rapid military assistance from its own stockpiles.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said on 29 October in an interview with Radio Zet. that Poland’s reduced military aid to Ukraine may have affected bilateral relations.

However, President Duda now indicates that these reserves have been largely depleted. “A responsible politician simply cannot transfer new weapons,” Duda explained to Radio Zet, suggesting that Poland has reached the limits of what it can provide without compromising its security needs.

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