Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky said his country has no plans to sever diplomatic ties with Russia despite recent drone incursions, stating he sees no grounds for such action during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha in Kyiv.

The Polish foreign minister’s comments came following Russia’s 10 September attack on Ukraine, during which at least 19 drones entered Polish airspace from Belarus in what Polish officials called the first direct incursion from Belarusian territory rather than accidental overflight from Ukraine.

“In diplomacy, communication channels are maintained not only with friends, but also with competitors and opponents. Therefore, as of now, I see no grounds for breaking off relations. The best response to Russian aggression will be solidarity with Ukraine and Western unity,” Sikorsky told journalists, according to Wyborcza.pl.

He explained that current diplomatic relations between Warsaw and Moscow consist of “mutual summons (of embassy heads) and delivery of protest notes,” while Russian diplomats face movement restrictions within Poland. Poland has already limited Russian diplomatic activity in certain voivodeships and called on European partners to reduce their numbers.

Drone incursion called “act of aggression”

Sikorsky characterized the drone intrusion as a “moment of truth” and rejected suggestions the incursion was accidental. “They flew in from Belarus, and it lasted seven hours. Anyone who says these are Ukrainian drones is repeating Russian propaganda,” he said.

Polish operational command of the Armed Forces labeled the 10 September incident an “act of aggression.” For the first time, Poland used aircraft weapons against the drones, temporarily closed four airports, and activated territorial defense reserves in border voivodeships.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted this marked the first time drones entered Poland directly from Belarus rather than from Ukraine “as a result of errors or minor Russian provocations.”

Poland invoked NATO Article 4, which provides for consultations when member states believe their territorial integrity, political independence or security faces threats. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it achieved all targets in Ukraine during the night attack and had not planned to strike objects on Polish territory.

Military cooperation expansion

The escalation of Russian attacks on Ukraine demonstrates that Russia is not ready for peace and ceasefire, Sikorsky said. Against this backdrop, Poland is prepared to expand military cooperation with Ukraine.

“Poland was the biggest beneficiary [of aid], and we are ready to provide 40 million euros,” the Polish foreign minister announced.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha responded that Ukraine is ready to assist Poland in countering Russian threats. “Ukraine is already successfully repelling attacks. We need to work on a joint drone defense system,” he said.

Sybiha called for increased pressure on Moscow to achieve peace, specifically expanding sanctions on Russian banks and the “shadow fleet.” He added that he and Sikorsky “touched on the topic of the past” between the two nations, agreeing to facilitate “constructive dialogue on historical issues.”

Russian response and NATO consultation

The drone incident prompted Poland to request NATO Article 4 consultations for the first time regarding Russian actions. Polish territorial defense forces announced they might shorten response times for reservists in voivodeships bordering Ukraine.

Sikorsky also said that the intensification of Russian strikes following Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Donald Trump indicates Russia’s desire to continue its war of aggression.

Following the airspace violation, Polish military personnel will travel to Ukraine to learn drone interception techniques, according to previous reports.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski dismissed suggestions that recent drone incursions into Polish airspace were linked to Ukrainian actions. He said the claims were either authored by or complicit with Russian propaganda.

This comes after a wave of drones entered Polish airspace on 10 September, engaging Polish air defences and causing alarm among NATO members. 

Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on Thursday, Sikorski stressed that the incident was a deliberate Russian operation, and not an accident.

“This intrusion into Polish and NATO airspace by Russian drones is a moment of truth, because these drones entered our airspace not only from Ukraine but also from Belarus. The air engagement lasted seven hours.

“This was not a coincidence, and anyone who claims it was a Ukrainian provocation is either the author of, or complicit in, Russian propaganda,” Sikorski said, according to a Ukrinform correspondent. 

He warned against repeating these disinformation narratives, and clarified that Poland is “confident these were Russian drones and that this was a Russian operation.” 

In Kyiv on 12 September, Ukrainian and Polish foreign ministers discussed boosting defense cooperation through joint ventures, arms production, and air defense initiatives, as well as sanctions on Russia and advancing historical reconciliation.

US President Donald Trump clashed with Polish journalist Marek Wałkuski during a press conference, suggesting he “find a new job” after the reporter questioned why no concrete actions had been taken to end the war in Ukraine despite repeated promises, reports Polsat News.

Wałkuski asked why Trump had repeatedly said he would quickly end the war in Ukraine but had not taken measures to do so. Trump responded by citing sanctions against India, “the largest buyer [of Russian products] after China,” which he said cost Moscow “hundreds of billions of dollars.”

“Is this a lack of action? We have not yet moved to the second and third phases, but if you say there are no actions, then you should probably find a new job,” Trump said.

The journalist told The Hill he appreciated the president’s advice, but Trump’s reaction justified his career choice. “I got an answer from the US president to my question that is worthy of media attention, and that’s my job as a journalist. But I’m grateful for his advice,” Wałkuski said.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski defended the journalist, saying his question to Trump was one “that we all ask ourselves.”

“I would not fire you from your job,” Sikorski added during a press conference in Washington.

Wałkuski is the author of four books about the White House and the United States. He previously served as president of the White House Foreign Press Group from 2024 to 2025 and has been a member of the White House press corps since 2018.

In February, Wałkuski asked a question that provoked a dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance. The journalist asked Trump to comment on being “too closely associated with Putin.” Trump replied that he was not associating with anyone and wanted to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

Vance then intervened, praising Trump’s diplomatic efforts. When the Ukrainian leader said that diplomacy with Putin was pointless, the situation escalated into an argument.

Sikorski commented on Karol Nawrocki’s visit to the White House, saying he would have an argument the next day at the Pentagon. “I will tell [Under Secretary of Defense] Colby: Listen, your president has already decided,” the foreign minister said, referring to Trump’s assurance that US troops would remain in Poland.

During Wednesday’s meeting between Nawrocki and Trump, the American leader assured that the United States would not withdraw troops from Poland and was ready to increase its presence if Poland expressed such a desire.