NATO Secretary General: "Ultimate Responsibility for Ukraine Missile Strike on Poland Lies with Russia"

"Russia Shows No Signs of Preparing Aggressive Military Actions Against NATO"

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Photo by AFP=Yonhap [Image source=Yonhap]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has concluded that the missile that exploded in Poland was likely caused by Ukraine's air defense missile launched to intercept a Russian cruise missile.

On the 16th (local time), Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated at a press conference following the North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, "There is no indication that this incident was the result of an intentional attack."

Secretary General Stoltenberg emphasized, "It must be made clear that this is not Ukraine's fault," adding, "Russia, which continues its illegal war against Ukraine, must bear ultimate responsibility."

Poland is a NATO ally, and NATO maintains a collective defense system where an attack on one ally by an external force is considered an attack on all, prompting a collective response.

Therefore, if the missile explosion incident in Poland had been confirmed as the act of Russia, the activation of the collective defense treaty could have escalated the Ukraine war into a direct confrontation between the West and Russia, worsening the situation.

Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "There are no signs that Russia is preparing aggressive military actions against NATO."