Kaja Kallas: The Downing of Russian Drones in Poland is a Turning Point and Must be Responded to Forcefully

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, confirmed that the downing of Russian drones in Polish airspace represents a qualitative shift in European rules of engagement, emphasizing that Europe has proven its ability to defend itself, but it needs more effort and strategic cohesion.

In statements to reporters on Wednesday, Kallas said that "what happened in Poland changes the game," considering that Russia is deliberately escalating military tensions, and that the European response must be "strong and very firm," especially in light of the increasing threats on the Union's borders.

Poland had announced the downing of Russian drones within its airspace, supported by military aircraft from NATO, in the first incident of its kind since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which observers considered a direct escalation against a NATO member state.

Kallas stressed the need to move forward with imposing more sanctions on Russia, considering that the economic and diplomatic response must keep pace with field developments and reflect the unity of the European position in the face of security threats.