At least two people were killed in an explosion in Poland. (File)
New Delhi:
Poland convened emergency meetings of its national security council and cabinet today following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles landed in its territory near the border with Ukraine.
The government talks come after a wave of rocket attacks across Ukraine on Tuesday left seven million homes in darkness just days after Russia’s humiliating retreat.
Polish media earlier reported that two people were killed in an explosion at a farm building in the village of Przewodow near the border.
The Associated Press earlier quoted a senior US intelligence official as saying the explosion was caused by Russian missiles passing over Poland. But the Pentagon said it could not confirm that account.
The Russian Defense Ministry denied reports that Russian missiles had hit Polish territory, describing them as “a deliberate provocation aimed at escalating the situation”.
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Biden was speaking after global leaders gathered for the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, which held an emergency meeting on Wednesday following deadly explosions in Poland by Ukrainian and Polish authorities attributed to Russian-made missiles.
The White House said the meeting was convened by US President Joe Biden after two people were killed in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.
I spoke to President Andrzej Duda of Poland to express my deep condolences for the loss of life in Eastern Poland and offer my full support for the Polish explosion investigation.
We will stay in close contact to determine the appropriate next steps as it proceeds. pic.twitter.com/m6OSwcHKtD
– President Biden (@POTUS) November 16, 2022
The Polish government summoned Russia’s ambassador to the country, claiming that a Russian-made missile had landed in the country, killing two citizens.
In a statement, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina said it had requested “immediate detailed explanations” of the incident.
“On November 15, 2022, another large, hour-long shelling took place over the entire territory of Ukraine and its vital infrastructure by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. at 3:40 pm, a Russian-made rocket crashed into the village of Przewodow, Hrubieszow district, Lubelskie province, and resulted in the death of two citizens of the Republic of Poland,” the ministry statement said.
Prime Minister Olaf Scholz assured Polish President Andrej Duda of German solidarity on Wednesday after two people were killed in what Warsaw said was a Russian-made missile attack.
“The Prime Minister has just phoned Polish President Duda and expressed his condolences. Poland will closely investigate the circumstances of the incident that killed two citizens last night. Germany stands with our NATO partner. I’m Polish,” a Scholz spokesman wrote on Twitter.
Poland has no concrete evidence to show who fired the rocket that caused the explosion in a village near the Ukrainian border, the president said on Wednesday.
“Currently we don’t have any convincing evidence as to who launched this missile… most likely it was a Russian-made missile, but all is still under investigation at this time. ”
Andrzej Duda told reporters.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged Poles to remain calm on Wednesday after a Russian-made missile killed two people in a Polish village near the Ukrainian border.
“I urge all Poles to remain calm in the face of this tragedy… We must be restrained and vigilant,” Morawiecki said after an emergency government meeting in Warsaw.
US President Joe Biden and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg spoke by phone, the White House said on Tuesday, following a deadly explosion in NATO ally Poland for which reports have not been confirmed to known to be caused by a Russian missile.
The White House said Biden, who had previously spoken with Polish President Andrzej Duda from Bali, where he was attending the G20 summit, ended the call with Stoltenberg at 6:13 a.m. local time (22 p.m. local time). :13 GMT).
An emergency meeting of NATO envoys is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss what Russia called a “provocative act”.
Ukraine on Tuesday said allegations that one of its rockets landed in Poland was a “conspiracy theory” following unconfirmed reports that a Russian missile had landed inside its borders. of NATO members.
“Russia is currently promoting the conspiracy theory that it is believed to be a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile that fell on Polish territory. This is not true. No one should buy Russian propaganda or amplify its message.” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, in a phone call with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, offered condolences following reports that a Russian missile attack left two people dead in Poland.
“We express our condolences for the death of a Polish citizen due to the Russian missile terrorism. We have exchanged the available information and are clarifying all the facts. Ukraine, Poland, the whole of Europe and the world. must be fully protected from Russian terrorism,” Zelensky said in an English-language statement. language tweets.
– Poland is verifying whether it needs to request consultations under Article 4 of the NATO military alliance treaty, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, after reports that the blast split into two. People killed near the Ukrainian border were caused by a stray Russian missile.
The United States and its Western allies said they were investigating but could not confirm a report on Tuesday that the explosion in the village of Przewodow was caused by a stray Russian missile. The Russian Defense Ministry denied.
EU chief Charles Michel said on Tuesday he would convene an emergency meeting of EU leaders at the G20 summit as he assured the Polish prime minister of the bloc’s support after a deadly explosion.
“Just spoke to (Mateusz Morawiecki). Assure him of the complete unity and solidarity of the EU in support of Poland. I will propose a coordination meeting on Wednesday with EU leaders. attending G20 in Bali,” Michel wrote on Twitter.
Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke to US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, Poland’s presidential palace said, after reports that two Russian missiles had landed on NATO member Poland.
Polish presidential adviser Jakub Kumoch wrote on Twitter: “The conversation between the presidents of the US and Poland is ongoing.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for talks on the Russian missile landing in Poland to be held at the ongoing G20 summit in Indonesia, the Elysee Palace told AFP late on Tuesday.
At G20 summit”, attended by Mr Macron, the French president said.
Belgium strongly condemns the incident that led to an explosion on Polish territory on Tuesday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, adding that his country would stand with Poland.
“We are all members of the NATO family,” he wrote on Twitter.
Firefighters in Poland said earlier that two people had died in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.
NATO member Poland convened emergency meetings of the national security council and cabinet on Tuesday following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles had landed on its territory near the border. Ukrainian world.
“Due to the crisis situation, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki… has called a meeting of the National Security Service,” government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters.
There will also be a cabinet meeting, the PAP news agency reported, citing the government.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday that it could not confirm reports that Russian missiles had crossed Poland near the border with Ukraine.
“We are aware of media reports alleging that two Russian missiles hit a site inside Poland near the Ukrainian border. I can tell you we didn’t have any information at the time. to corroborate those reports and are looking into the matter further.” Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Patrick Ryder speaks during a press conference.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday that it could not corroborate media reports that two Russian missiles landed inside NATO member Poland, but it was investigating the claims.
“We are aware of media reports alleging that two Russian missiles hit a location inside Poland or on the Ukrainian border,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said.
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