NATO has announced plans to beef up the defence of Europe's eastern flank, two days after Poland shot down drones that had violated its airspace in the first known action of its kind by a member of the Western alliance during Russia's war in Ukraine.
Warsaw has portrayed the drone incursions as an attempt by Russia to test the capabilities of Poland and NATO to respond.
Earlier, it rejected Donald Trump's suggestion that the incursions could have been a mistake, a rare contradiction of the US president from one of Washington's closest allies.
Russia said its forces had been attacking Ukraine at the time of the drone incursions and that it had not intended to hit any targets in Poland.
"It's reckless and unacceptable. We can't have Russian drones entering allied air space," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told a press conference, announcing operation "Eastern Sentry".
The mission, which begins this evening, will involve a range of assets integrating air and ground bases.
Allies, including Denmark, France, Britain and Germany have so far committed to the mission with others set to join, Mr Rutte added.
NATO's top military official, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich, who is a US Air Force general, said the alliance would defend every inch of its territory.
"Poland and citizens from across the alliance should be assured by our rapid response earlier this week and our significant announcement here today," Mr Grynkewich told the same press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
The United Nations Security Council was set to meet at Poland's request to discuss the incident.
Responding to Mr Trump's comment yesterday that the incursion could have been an accident, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded on X: "We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it."
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
Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin was "sort of running out and running out fast", but stopped short of threatening new sanctions over the war.
After strong condemnation of Russia by European leaders over the incident, Germany said it had extended air policing over Poland and summoned the Russian ambassador.
Meanwhile, Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski has arrived in Kyiv to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga, days after the drone raid into Poland escalated concerns over the spillover of Russia's invasion.
Mr Sybiga shared an image of him meeting Mr Sikorski at a train station in Ukraine's capital.
"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."
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British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper also arrived in Ukraine, the foreign office said, and is scheduled to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In Warsaw last night, Mr Tusk said that anyone who attacks Poland will be met with "an appropriate response".
He made the comments following a four-hour meeting of the country's National Security Council, called by President Karol Nawrocki in response to the Russian drone incursions.
Mr Tusk and Mr Nawrocki attended the talks, as well as 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" in relation to 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."
Moscow has not commented directly on the drone incursions, saying that it sees statements from Warsaw as "nothing new".
A number of Russian media outlets have suggested that the drones that entered Polish airspace were Ukrainian, while the Belarusian army command said that its drones had flown "off course" and into Poland - claims that Warsaw has firmly dismissed.
President Nawrocki told yesterday's meeting that Poland had "passed this test".
"The procedures have worked, primarily thanks to the command of the Polish Armed Forces.
"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 gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and security and Mr Tusk said that Warsaw intends to use funds from the European defence investment programme (SAFE) on cooperation with Ukraine to modernise Poland's air defence 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 parliament.
However, political unity was on display during yesterday's national security meeting with both men greeting each other with a warm handshake.
Head of the country’s National Security Bureau, Slawomir Cenckiewicz, said 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 told the meeting.
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 on 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.
Read more:
Russian drones in Poland's airspace 'reckless', says Taoiseach
Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus have begun a joint five-day military exercise, known as 'Zapad' ("West"), part of which will be conducted close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania.
Previous 'Zapad’ exercises have simulated attacks on western neighbours. The last one was 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.
