Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has dismissed US President Donald Trump's suggestion that the intrusion of some 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace could be a mistake.
"We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it," Mr Tusk said on X.
Poland's foreign minister has arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine for talks on security, days after the drone raid into Poland escalated concerns over the spillover of Russia's invasion.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga shared an image showing him meeting his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, at a train station in Kyiv.
We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) September 12, 2025
"Against the backdrop of Russia's escalation of terror against Ukraine and provocations against Poland, we stand firmly together," Mr Sybiga wrote on social media.
"We will hold substantial talks today about our shared security, Ukraine's EU and NATO accession, and pressure on Moscow."
Meanwhile, Mr Tusk said that anyone who attacks Poland will be met with "an appropriate response".
Mr Tusk was speaking last night following a four-hour meeting of Poland's National Security Council, called by Polish President Karol Nawrocki in response to the Russian drone incursions.
The meeting was attended by the country's president, the prime minister, senior cabinet ministers, and the heads of Poland’s armed forces.
"Anyone who wants to attack Poland will be dealt with appropriately, as was the case on September 10th.
"Poland has responded patiently and sensibly to provocations for years. As part of NATO, we are fully aware of our shared responsibility for peace, which is why our reactions were subdued and appropriate," said Mr Tusk, referencing the drone incursions.
Polish and Dutch fighter jets shot down at least three out of 19 drones that crossed into Polish airspace, mostly from Belarus, on Wednesday morning.
Mr Tusk also thanked European allies for their declarations of "practical support" and said that Poland and Ukraine are in close cooperation regarding counter-drone systems.
Commenting on what he called "Russian propaganda" and "disinformation" regarding the incursions, Mr Tusk said: "We reject all manipulations and disinformation suggesting that Ukraine is behind this attack, that this is a Ukrainian provocation."
"Our knowledge is clear and the responsibility for these events in Polish skies rests with the Russian Federation," he added.
The Kremlin has not commented directly on the drone incursions into Poland, saying that it sees statements from Warsaw as "nothing new".
Speaking during the meeting in Warsaw yesterday, Mr Nawrocki said that Poland had "passed this test".
"The procedures have worked, primarily thanks to the command of the Polish Armed Forces," he added.
"We must increase investment in air and missile defence, both in purchasing new systems and developing domestic technologies".
Poland is already on course to spend close to 5% of its annual GDP on defence and security, and Mr Tusk said that Warsaw intends to spend funds from the European defence investment programme (SAFE) on cooperation with Ukraine to modernise Poland’s air defense system.
Mr Nawrocki, a conservative who was backed by the nationalist Law and Justice party in June’s presidential election, and Mr Tusk, who leads a broad centrist coalition government, have clashed in recent weeks over domestic issues, with the president vetoing a number of bills passed by the coalition government through parliament.
However, political unity was on display during yesterday's national security meeting in Warsaw with both the president and prime minister greeting each other with a warm handshake.
Head of the country’s National Security Bureau, Slawomir Cenckiewicz, said during the meeting that the drone incursions had "integrated the Polish political elite".
"The main centres of power in Poland are now communicating with each other in an even better atmosphere," he said.
Last night, Mr Trump told reporters that the reported Russian drone incursions may have been a mistake.
"It could have been a mistake. But regardless, I'm not happy about anything to do with that whole situation. But hopefully it’s going to come to an end," Mr Trump said yesterday evening at the White House.
Responding to Mr Trump’s comment, Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski posted on social media platform X that: "No, it was not a mistake".
Mr Sikorski has arrived in Kyiv this morning for meetings with Ukrainian officials to discuss shared security issues, and Ukraine's EU and NATO accession bids.
Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus have begun their joint five-day military exercise, known as 'Zapad’ ("West"), close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania.
Previous ‘Zapad’ exercises have simulated attacks on western neighbours, and was last staged in 2021, one year before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Poland has deployed up to 40,000 troops on its side of the border with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad while ‘Zapad’ takes place.
Read more: Russian drones in Poland's airspace 'reckless', says Taoiseach
The visit comes as Russia and its key ally Belarus - both of which border Poland - began major joint military drills.
Poland and its NATO allies scrambled jets and shot down at least three of more than a dozen Russian drones flying across its airspace early Wednesday.
Russian drones have been detected in NATO countries' airspace several times since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but this was the first time any alliance member had shot them down.
Moscow denied targeting the country and said there was no evidence the drones were Russian.
"On the night that 19 Russian drones crossed into Poland, 400 - and 40 missiles - flew over Ukraine.
"These were not mistakes," Mr Sikorski said in a social media post.
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper also arrived in Ukraine, the foreign office said, and is scheduled to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The visits came as officials in the northeastern region of Sumy announced two people were killed and five were wounded in Russian bombardments.
