Since the missile that landed in Poland probably did not come from Russia, NATO determined that Ukraine was not to blame.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that a Ukrainian missile was not to blame for the “explosion” that killed two people in Poland, President Joe Biden strongly disagreed.
Just after 12:30 a.m., on the South Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, Biden told reporters, “That’s not the evidence.”
The “explosion” that killed two Poles in the town of Przewodow, some 30 miles from the Ukrainian border, was blamed on Ukraine’s air defense system, but on Wednesday, Zelenskyy rejected assertions made by NATO and Polish officials.
Zelenskyy was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying, “I have no doubt this was not our missile, and not our missile struck,” during a news conference in Kyiv. He continued by saying his superiors had assured him everything would be all right.
As soon as Tuesday’s report by The Associated Press, citing an unnamed U.S. source, that a Russian missile had attacked NATO territory, concerns were voiced regarding the reaction of the member nations.
Russia unleashed hundreds of assaults last week across Ukraine, and Zelenskyy ultimately revealed that parts of their air defense system may have landed in Poland.
On the other hand, he said, “an inquiry is being made into this.”
President Yanukovych of Ukraine questioned this theory, noting that the impact zone was just 65 feet in diameter and 16 feet deep.
He said, “I’m entitled to my own perspective.” The expert concluded that “this missile appears like it was built in Russia.”
Ukraine has asked for this to be included in the investigation being conducted by NATO and Poland, and Zelenskyy has said he is interested in seeing evidence that the attack originated within the Ukrainian military.
“If their fatalities were caused by falling debris, our deepest condolences go out to their loved ones. As a group, we can be relied upon to do what we say we will.” Further, he added.
Western leaders such as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Ukraine was justified in shooting down an incoming Russian missile despite the lack of available information.
“Whatever the eventual results may be,” United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters, “the world realizes that Russia has ultimate culpability for this calamity.”
He claimed that Russia had launched a new wave of missiles into Ukraine on Wednesday with the goal of destroying the country’s civilian infrastructure. And “Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” as well.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.