French President Emmanuel Macron said France will send three Rafale fighter jets to help protect Polish airspace after Warsaw accused Russia of launching a drone raid. France has also summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident, as the UN Security Council prepares for an emergency meeting on Friday.
Macron announced the deployment on Thursday, saying the jets would help defend Europe’s eastern flank alongside NATO allies.
"Following Russian drone incursions into Poland, I have decided to deploy three Rafale fighter jets to help protect Polish airspace and Europe’s eastern flank alongside our NATO allies," Macron said on social media platform X.
"I made this commitment yesterday to the Polish prime minister. I also discussed this matter with the NATO secretary general and the British prime minister, who is also involved in protecting the eastern flank. We will not give in to Russia's increasing intimidation."
Poland calls NATO talks after downing Russian drones in airspace breach
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday said that Russia's firing of drones over Poland was "absolutely unacceptable", adding that the Russian ambassador would be summoned over the incident.
"We will tell him that we will not be intimidated... Whether intentional or not, whether accidental or not, this is very serious, this is absolutely unacceptable," Barrot told France Inter radio.
'Unprecedented' attack
On Wednesday, Poland called urgent NATO talks after saying Russian drones crossed its airspace during an attack on Ukraine.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Polish airspace had been violated 19 times and at least three drones were shot down after jets were scrambled. He described the breach as an "unprecedented" attack on Poland, NATO and the European Union.
Moscow denied responsibility and said there was no evidence the drones were Russian.
US President Donald Trump, who has sought to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, told reporters on Thursday the incident may have been a "mistake".
NATO countries raise spending as Germany expands weapons output
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier Thursday discussed the drone incident with Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, his office said.
"In both calls, the leaders condemned the shocking Russian violation of NATO and Poland's airspace," a Downing Street spokesperson said.
"Discussing how the UK and France could bolster Poland's defences, the prime minister said the UK stood ready to support any further NATO deployments to the region."
Germany said it would "extend and expand" its participation in NATO’s Air Policing programme. The defence ministry said it would double the number of Eurofighter jets deployed to four and keep them in place until the end of the year.
The UN Security Council will meet on Friday after Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, France and Britain requested talks on the drone incident.
(with newswires)
