jaishankar-pushes-for-early-end-to-ukraine-war

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in a phone discussion on Thursday with his Polish counterpart, Radosław Sikorski, restating India's position in support of a prompt halt to the fighting and a lasting resolution to the Ukraine situation.

 

"I spoke to Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski of Poland today. He shared his concern about recent developments pertaining to Poland’s security. I underlined that India favours an early end to hostilities and a durable solution for the Ukraine conflict," the EAM stated in a message on X.

 

The United Nations Security Council plans to convene on Friday to address drone intrusions into its airspace, which the Polish president characterised as Russia's effort to probe Warsaw and NATO's reaction. Poland has prohibited drone operations along its eastern frontiers with Belarus and Ukraine, while also curtailing minor air movements in those zones, following the downing of what it identified as Russian drones breaching its airspace on Wednesday.

 

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1966207164902683031

 

NATO partners supported Poland in neutralising the drones—an initial instance of a military alliance member discharging weapons amid Russia's conflict in Ukraine—and Germany announced on Thursday that it would bolster its dedication to NATO's eastern flank amid the violations. Russia maintained that it had no aim to strike any Polish objectives and would offer no additional remarks on the matter. A high-ranking NATO officer noted that it remains unclear if the drone entries were deliberate.

 

However, the event has sparked enquiries into NATO's readiness for drone assaults and heightened strains with Russia and led certain Western figures to advocate for fresh penalties against Moscow while doubting its dedication to Ukrainian peace initiatives.

 

"This Russian provocation, as the generals and our soldiers are well aware, was nothing more than an attempt to test our capabilities, our ability to respond," Polish President Karol Nawrocki remarked to troops on Thursday. Members of the U.N. Security Council from Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, France, and Britain requested the 15-nation group to gather regarding the episode.

 

 

Polish F-16 combat aircraft, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS monitoring planes, and NATO aerial refuelling planes were deployed in the mission to intercept drones within Polish airspace from late Tuesday into Wednesday, according to officials.

 

So far, remnants from 16 drones have been retrieved, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz informed parliament on Thursday. He indicated that Poland's logistical assistance to Ukraine could have driven the intrusions, as the majority of aid to Ukraine passes through Poland.

 

"This is an attempt to weaken NATO’s and Poland’s willingness to support Ukraine," he stated.

 

SOME AIR TRAFFIC RESTRICTED

 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Wednesday that he had invoked Article 4 of NATO’s treaty, allowing alliance members to request discussions with partners. U.S. President Donald Trump conversed with Nawrocki on Wednesday, with the two leaders affirming solidarity. Yet Washington offered scant details on the drone breaches just before a prisoner swap by Belarus that came after a plea from the U.S. president.

 

European officials, seeking Trump's alignment in intensifying sanctions on Russia and enhancing backing for Kyiv, asserted that the airspace breaches warranted a unified reply. Germany declared it would heighten aid to Ukraine and collaborate in the European Union for the rapid enactment of additional sanctions on Russia in light of the drone entries.

 

"In addition to existing commitments in the Baltics and Poland, the government will extend and expand air policing over Poland," a German government spokesperson commented.

 

The Netherlands is dispatching 300 troops and hastening the placement of two of three Patriot air defence systems pledged to Poland, while the Czech Republic might provide three helicopters and 100 personnel, according to Poland’s defence minister. Legislators from three Baltic countries adjacent to Russia pressed the US Congress to oppose a Trump initiative that would cut roughly $200 million annually in regional defense funding.

 

Also Read: Jaishankar warns US on Pak, reminds Bin Laden’s refuge

 

"In this region, if America goes out, Russia comes in," observed Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania’s former ambassador to the U.S.

 

Poland and NATO have not yet provided a comprehensive explanation of their suspicions about the drones' objectives. NATO is also confronting scrutiny over whether external drones ought to penetrate its airspace and its capacity to counter such dangers.

 

The air traffic curbs enacted by Poland near the Ukraine and Belarus borders will remain in effect through December 9, as per Polish aviation regulators. These curbs will limit general aviation—primarily small and leisure planes plus helicopters—and prohibit civilian unmanned aircraft like drones.

 

Scheduled passenger services in the region remain unaffected, though the drone breaches have revived worries about the susceptibility of European commercial aviation. "This is going to be an ongoing issue for all airlines and all European citizens for the next number of years," remarked Ryanair's Michael O’Leary.

 

Also Read: Jaishankar to attend BRICS summit in Brazil