The Russian hypersonic missile strike on a Ukrainian city highlights the growing risk of a global conflict, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the strike was in retaliation for the U.S. and UK enabling Ukraine to target Russian territory with advanced Western weaponry. He described the situation as having taken on “elements of a global character.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the missile attack as another dangerous escalation, pointing to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops on its soil as an alarming development.
“The war in the east is entering a decisive phase. We feel that the unknown is approaching,” Tusk said during a teachers’ conference. “The conflict is taking on dramatic proportions. The last few dozen hours have shown that the threat of a global conflict is serious and real.”
Poland’s Strategic Position
Poland, which shares borders with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, has been a vocal advocate for increased NATO defence spending. The country has committed to allocating 4.7% of its GDP to bolster its armed forces by 2025, significantly exceeding NATO’s 2% guideline.
Amid heightened tensions, Russia criticized the establishment of a U.S. ballistic missile defense base in northern Poland, claiming it increased nuclear risks in the region. Warsaw dismissed Moscow’s accusations, asserting that such threats only reinforced the need for robust NATO defences.
TeamBharatshakti
(With Inputs from Reuters)
