At least 2 people were killed in a blast in Poland. (File)
New Delhi:
Poland called emergency meetings of its national security council and cabinet today following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles had landed on its territory near the Ukrainian border.
The government talks come after a wave of missile strikes across Ukraine on Tuesday which plunged seven million homes into darkness just days after a humiliating Russian retreat.
Polish media earlier reported that two people were killed in an explosion at a farm building in the village of Przewodow near the border.
The Associated Press earlier cited a senior US intelligence official as saying the blast was due to Russian missiles crossing into Poland. But the Pentagon said it could not confirm that account.
Russia’s defence ministry denied reports that Russian missiles had hit Polish territory, describing them as “a deliberate provocation aimed at escalating the situation”.
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The meeting was convened by U.S. President Joe Biden, the White House said, after two people were killed in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.
I spoke with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to express my deep condolences for the loss of life in Eastern Poland and offer our full support for Poland’s investigation of the explosion.
We will remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as it proceeds. pic.twitter.com/m6OSwcHKtD
– President Biden (@POTUS) November 16, 2022
The Polish government has summoned the Russian ambassador to the country, claiming that a Russian-made missile fell in the country, killing two citizens.
In a statement, Polish foreign ministry spokesperson Lukasz Jasina has it has demanded “immediate detailed explanations” on the incident.
“On 15 November 2022, another hours-long, massive shelling took place of the entire territory of Ukraine and its critical infrastructure by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. At 3:40 pm, a Russia-made missile dropped on the village of Przewodow, district Hrubieszow, Lubelskie province, and resulted in death of two citizens of the Republic of Poland,” the ministry statement said.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Polish President Andrej Duda of Germany’s solidarity Wednesday after two people were killed in what Warsaw said was a strike by a Russian-made missile.
“The chancellor has just telephoned Polish President Duda and expressed his condolences. Poland will closely investigate the circumstances of the incident in which two citizens were killed last night. Germany stands closely by the side of our NATO partner Poland,” Scholz’s spokesman tweeted.
Poland has no concrete evidence showing who fired the missile that caused an explosion in a village near the Ukrainian border, the president said on Wednesday
“We do not have any conclusive evidence at the moment as to who launched this missile… it was most likely a Russian-made missile, but this is all still under investigation at the moment,”
Andrzej Duda told reporters.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged Poles to remain calm on Wednesday after a Russian-made missile killed two people in a Polish village near the Ukrainian border.
“I am calling on all Poles to remain calm in the face of this tragedy… We must exercise restraint and caution,” Morawiecki said after emergency government meetings in Warsaw.
US President Joe Biden and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg have spoken by telephone, the White House said Tuesday, after a deadly blast in NATO ally Poland which unconfirmed reports said was caused by Russian missiles.
Biden, who earlier spoke with Polish President Andrzej Duda from Bali, where he is attending the G20 summit, wrapped up his call with Stoltenberg at 6:13 am local time (2213 GMT), the White House said.
An emergency meeting of NATO envoys is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the incident, which Russia has called a “provocation.”
Ukraine on Tuesday said that allegations that one of its missiles had landed in Poland were a “conspiracy theory” following unconfirmed reports a Russian missile had landed inside the borders of the NATO member.
“Russia now promotes a conspiracy theory that it was allegedly a missile of Ukrainian air defense that fell on the territory of Poland. This is not true. No one should buy Russian propaganda or amplify its messages,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday during telephone call with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda offered condolences following reports that an alleged Russian missile attack had left two dead in Poland.
“Expressed condolences over the death of Polish citizens from Russian missile terror. We exchanged available information and are clarifying all the facts. Ukraine, Poland, all of Europe and the world must be fully protected from terrorist Russia,” Zelensky said in an English-language tweet.
– Poland is verifying if it needs to request consultations under Article 4 of the NATO military alliance treaty, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, after a report that a blast that killed two people near the Ukrainian border was caused by stray Russian missiles.
The United States and Western allies said they were investigating but could not confirm a report on Tuesday that the blast in the village of Przewodow resulted from stray Russian missiles. Russia’s defence ministry denied it.
EU chief Charles Michel said Tuesday he would call an emergency meeting of EU leaders at the G20 summit as he assured Poland’s premier of the bloc’s support over after a deadly blast.
“Just spoke with (Mateusz Morawiecki). Assured him of full EU unity and solidarity in support of Poland. I will propose a coordination meeting on Wednesday with EU leaders attending G20 here in Bali,” Michel tweeted.
Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke on Tuesday with US President Joe Biden, the Polish presidency said, after reports that two Russian missiles had landed in NATO member Poland.
“The conversation between the US and Polish presidents is ongoing,” Polish presidential adviser Jakub Kumoch said on Twitter.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for talks over reports Russian missiles landed in Poland to be held at the G20 summit underway in Indonesia, the Elysee Palace told AFP late Tuesday.
Efforts were underway to “explore the possibility of a discussion tomorrow morning at the level of leaders… given the presence of all our major European partners and our major allied partners at the G20” summit, attended by Macron, the French presidency said.
Belgium strongly condemns the incident leading to a blast on Polish territory on Tuesday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, adding his country will stand with Poland.
“We are all part of the NATO family”, he said in a tweet.
Firefighters in Poland said earlier two people died in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.
NATO member Poland called emergency meetings of its national security council and cabinet on Tuesday following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles had landed on its territory near the Ukrainian border.
“Due to the crisis situation, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki… called a meeting of the National Security Bureau,” government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters.
There will also be a cabinet meeting, PAP news agency reported, citing the government.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday it could not confirm reports that Russian missiles have crossed into Poland near the Ukraine border.
“We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland near the Ukraine border. I can tell you that we don’t have any information at this time to corroborate those reports and are looking into this further,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told a news briefing.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday it was unable to corroborate media reports that two Russian missiles had landed inside NATO member Poland, but that it was investigating the claims.
“We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland or the Ukraine border,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
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