NATO can shoot down missiles over Ukr. from Poland: German Politician
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Nico Lange, former chief of staff at the German Ministry of Defense, argued that there is a need for an "unconventional solution", urging a "change in strategy" in Western support for Ukraine.
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Ukrainian soldiers carry shells near the city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, on March 25, 2024. (AP)
A senior researcher at the Munich Security Conference and former chief of staff at the German Ministry of Defense from 2019-2022, Nico Lange suggested in an interview with Tagesschau, that NATO allies should use anti-craft systems to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine from Poland's territory.
As Ukraine is currently struggling on the battlefield due to manpower shortages and hardware losses, Lange stressed "From now on, partners should use the numerous 'Patriot' systems on our eastern borders to shoot down all Russian missiles and drones that they have within range over Ukraine," referencing mainly the alliance’s air defense systems in eastern Poland.
"This would be fully covered under international law," Lange emphasized, using the example of Western assistance for "Israel" last week against the retaliatory Iranian strike.
Lange further argued that there is a need for an "unconventional solution", urging a "change in strategy" in Western support for Ukraine.
He also believes that simultaneously and in the long term, there should be an increase in the production of air defense systems in Europe.
A senior official of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, Vladimir Rogov, told Sputnik on April 19 that Poland is preparing its military personnel for entry into Ukraine, with some already arriving in the operation zone in small groups disguised as mercenaries.
Poland's PM warned Europe has entered 'pre-war era'
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on March 29 of the "real" threat of conflict in Europe, saying that for the first time since the end of World War II, the continent has entered a "pre-war era".
"War is no longer a concept from the past. It is real, and it started over two years ago. The most worrying thing at the moment is that literally any scenario is possible. We haven't seen a situation like this since 1945," Tusk said in an interview for the European media grouping LENA on March 29.
"I know it sounds devastating, especially for the younger generation, but we have to get used to the fact that a new era has begun: the pre-war era. I'm not exaggerating; it's becoming clearer every day."
Polish FM said NATO troops already in Ukraine
NATO forces are already in Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on March 10, declining to elaborate.
Sikorski expressed at a gathering commemorating Poland's 25th anniversary of NATO membership that "NATO soldiers are already present in Ukraine," thanking leaders from NATO member states who purportedly supplied soldiers to Ukraine, but refused to comment on the number of troops and their places of origin.
On March 8, Sikorski stated that the presence of NATO military in Ukraine "was not unthinkable," and praised Macron's intention to send Western troops to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that Poland needed to build a large airport to facilitate the transit of NATO soldiers.
