APP/AFP
Warsaw: Poland’s president said there was no clear evidence of who fired the missile that killed two people in a Polish village on Tuesday, adding that it was “most probably Russian-made”.
“We do not for the moment have unequivocal evidence of who fired the missile. An investigation is ongoing. It was most probably Russian-made,” President Andrzej Duda told reporters on Wednesday.
The foreign ministry earlier said the missile was Russian-made and summoned Russia’s ambassador to Warsaw to give “immediate detailed explanations”.
Duda said he had spoken to US President Joe Biden who had promised: “support in the form of American experts to help us investigate at the site of this tragic incident”.
He also said it was “highly likely” that Poland’s ambassador to NATO will request urgent consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty at a meeting with other alliance ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday.
Article 4 of the NATO Treaty states that consultations can be called when any NATO member feels their “territorial integrity, political independence or security” are at risk.
UK PM offers Poland ‘solidarity’ after missile strike
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offered Poland’s president “solidarity” and help to investigate after two people were killed in what Warsaw said was a strike by a Russian-made missile, Downing Street said Wednesday.
“The Prime Minister spoke to Polish President Andrzej Duda today from the G20 in Indonesia, following reports of a missile strike in Poland,” Downing Street said in a statement. “He reiterated the UK’s solidarity.”
“President Duda updated on the Polish investigation efforts, and the Prime Minister offered any assistance needed to urgently establish what happened.”
The leaders agreed to stay in touch and coordinate with allies, including NATO, “on the next steps”, the statement said. Poland says the missile strike in the village of Przewodow involved a Russian-made munition and has summoned Moscow’s ambassador to give “immediate, detailed explanations”.
