Poland called emergency meetings of its national security council and cabinet today following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles had landed on its territory near the Ukrainian border.
The government talks come after a wave of missile strikes across Ukraine on Tuesday which plunged seven million homes into darkness just days after a humiliating Russian 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 cited a senior US intelligence official as saying the blast was due to Russian missiles crossing into Poland. But the Pentagon said it could not confirm that account.
Russia's defence ministry denied reports that Russian missiles had hit Polish territory, describing them as "a deliberate provocation aimed at escalating the situation".
Here are the LIVE updates on the Russian Ukraine war:
Military alliance NATO and member Poland said the missile was probably a stray fired by Ukraine's air defenses and not a Russian strike, easing international fears that the war could widen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demurred, saying there was no doubt the missile was not Ukrainian.
Ukraine's Zelensky Asks Allies For 'All Data' In Poland Missile RowPresident Volodymyr Zelensky called Wednesday for Ukraine's allies to share "all the data" held on the missile that landed in Poland, which Kyiv insists was fired by Russia, a claim contradicted by Warsaw.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky pointed the finger at Russia, but the United States, like NATO, came out firmly in support of Warsaw's assessment that the deadly missile was probably fired by Ukraine.
Two people were killed on Tuesday when at least one missile hit a village in NATO member Poland near the Ukrainian border, during a mass Russian bombardment aimed at civilian infrastructure inside Western-backed Ukraine.
"In the evening, President @AndrzejDuda talked with the head of the CIA, William Burns, who is in Warsaw after his visits to Ankara and Kyiv," Jacek Siewiera wrote on Twitter. "The conversation concerned the general security situation, the context of recent events came up."
"This Is Not Our Missile": Zelensky Contradicts NATO Over Poland BlastUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that a missile that hit Poland, killing two, was Russian.
"No Indication Of Deliberate Attack" On Poland, Says NATO ChiefNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday a deadly explosion in Poland was probably the result of Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire but that Russia bears "ultimate responsibility" for the war.
Based on current information, the strikes in #Poland seem to be a result of Ukrainian air defense. Pieces of Russian missiles and a Ukrainian interception missile are said to have landed in Poland. To be confirmed by ongoing investigations.
- Ludivine Dedonder (@DedonderLudivin) November 16, 2022
#NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg will chair a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to discuss yesterday's explosion in Eastern #Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. The Secretary General will brief the media @NATO HQ after the meeting.
- Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) November 16, 2022
ℹ️: https://t.co/rm8jHJ1bDT pic.twitter.com/LRYRcxKw6P
"The prime minister and Prime Minister Trudeau emphasised the importance of a full investigation into the circumstances behind missiles falling in Poland yesterday," Sunak's office said, after the two leaders spoke to Zelenskiy from the G20 summit in Indonesia.
Sanchez also entirely blamed Russia for the crises on the food and energy markets in a news conference following the closure of the summit.
China on Wednesday called for calm following a deadly missile strike on a Polish village near the border with war-ravaged Ukraine.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press briefing: "Under the current situation, all relevant parties should stay calm and exercise restraint to avoid escalation of the situation."
"The incident with the Ukrainian-alleged 'missile strike' on a Polish farm proves just one thing: waging a hybrid war against Russia, the West moves closer to world war," Medvedev wrote on Twitter.
"Russia saying this has nothing to do with them and (U.S. President Joe) Biden saying these missiles are not Russian-made show that this has nothing to do with Russia," Erdogan said at a news conference during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Erdogan said the situation needs to be investigated and that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin when he returns to Turkey.
France urged "utmost caution" Wednesday on the origin of a deadly missile strike on NATO member Poland, saying many countries in the region have similar weapons, reports AFP.
"It's logical that we approach the question with utmost caution... Many countries have the same kind of weapons, so identifying the type of missile won't necessarily identify who is behind it," a French presidency official said, warning of the "significant risks of escalation."
Two people were killed in an explosion in a village 6 kilometres (3.5 miles) from the border, with Polish President Andrzej Duda saying that Poland had no conclusive evidence showing who fired the missile.
The incident happened hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy outlined to leaders of G20 nations his peace plan for Ukraine, and after Russia unleashed what Kyiv said was the heaviest wave of missile strikes in nearly nine months of war.
Kishida told the meeting, held in Bali on the sidelines of a G20 summit, that Japan was "very concerned" and watching developments closely, the ministry said in a statement.
The emergency meeting took place after deadly explosions in Poland that Ukraine and Polish authorities said were caused by Russian-made missiles.
"We pledged to remain closely coordinated in the days ahead as the investigation proceeds and we determine appropriate next steps," Blinken said in a tweet as US President Joe Biden met allies on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali to discuss the blast.
Biden spoke after global leaders gathered for the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, held an emergency meeting on Wednesday after deadly explosions in Poland that Ukraine and Polish authorities said were caused by Russian-made missiles.
The meeting was convened by U.S. President Joe Biden, the White House said, after two people were killed in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.
I spoke with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to express my deep condolences for the loss of life in Eastern Poland and offer our full support for Poland's investigation of the explosion.
- President Biden (@POTUS) November 16, 2022
We will remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as it proceeds. pic.twitter.com/m6OSwcHKtD
In a statement, Polish foreign ministry spokesperson Lukasz Jasina has it has demanded "immediate detailed explanations" on the incident.
"On 15 November 2022, another hours-long, massive shelling took place of the entire territory of Ukraine and its critical infrastructure by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. At 3:40 pm, a Russia-made missile dropped on the village of Przewodow, district Hrubieszow, Lubelskie province, and resulted in death of two citizens of the Republic of Poland," the ministry statement said.
"The chancellor has just telephoned Polish President Duda and expressed his condolences. Poland will closely investigate the circumstances of the incident in which two citizens were killed last night. Germany stands closely by the side of our NATO partner Poland," Scholz's spokesman tweeted.
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 am calling on all Poles to remain calm in the face of this tragedy... We must exercise restraint and caution," Morawiecki said after emergency government meetings in Warsaw.
Biden, who earlier spoke with Polish President Andrzej Duda from Bali, where he is attending the G20 summit, wrapped up his call with Stoltenberg at 6:13 am local time (2213 GMT), the White House said.
An emergency meeting of NATO envoys is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the incident, which Russia has called a "provocation."
Poland Confirms Russian-Made Missile Landed On Its Soil And Killed 2A Russian-made missile landed in Poland at 1440 GMT on Tuesday and killed two people in the village of Przewodow, Polish foreign ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina said in a statement.
Ukraine on Tuesday said that allegations that one of its missiles had landed in Poland were a "conspiracy theory" following unconfirmed reports a Russian missile had landed inside the borders of the NATO member.
"Russia now promotes a conspiracy theory that it was allegedly a missile of Ukrainian air defense that fell on the territory of Poland. This is not true. No one should buy Russian propaganda or amplify its messages," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday during telephone call with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda offered condolences following reports that an alleged Russian missile attack had left two dead in Poland.
"Expressed condolences over the death of Polish citizens from Russian missile terror. We exchanged available information and are clarifying all the facts. Ukraine, Poland, all of Europe and the world must be fully protected from terrorist Russia," Zelensky said in an English-language tweet.
Poland Puts Army On Alert As Suspected Russian Missiles Hit Its CountryPoland is putting some military units on a heightened state of readiness, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles landed in Poland.
- Poland is verifying if it needs to request consultations under Article 4 of the NATO military alliance treaty, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, after a report that a blast that killed two people near the Ukrainian border was caused by stray Russian missiles.
The United States and Western allies said they were investigating but could not confirm a report on Tuesday that the blast in the village of Przewodow resulted from stray Russian missiles. Russia's defence ministry denied it.
EU chief Charles Michel said Tuesday he would call an emergency meeting of EU leaders at the G20 summit as he assured Poland's premier of the bloc's support over after a deadly blast.
"Just spoke with (Mateusz Morawiecki). Assured him of full EU unity and solidarity in support of Poland. I will propose a coordination meeting on Wednesday with EU leaders attending G20 here in Bali," Michel tweeted.Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke on Tuesday with US President Joe Biden, the Polish presidency said, after reports that two Russian missiles had landed in NATO member Poland.
"The conversation between the US and Polish presidents is ongoing," Polish presidential adviser Jakub Kumoch said on Twitter.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for talks over reports Russian missiles landed in Poland to be held at the G20 summit underway in Indonesia, the Elysee Palace told AFP late Tuesday.
Efforts were underway to "explore the possibility of a discussion tomorrow morning at the level of leaders... given the presence of all our major European partners and our major allied partners at the G20" summit, attended by Macron, the French presidency said.
Russian Missile Hit Poland: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Slams Russia After 2 Killed In Russian Attack In PolandUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday accused Russia of firing missiles at NATO member Poland, describing the alleged attack as "a very significant escalation" of Russia's invasion.
Belgium strongly condemns the incident leading to a blast on Polish territory on Tuesday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, adding his country will stand with Poland.
"We are all part of the NATO family", he said in a tweet.
Firefighters in Poland said earlier two people died in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.
Stray Russian Missiles Feared To Have Landed In Poland, Moscow DeniesMoscow's defence minister on Tuesday dismissed reports that Russian missiles had landed in Poland, which borders Ukraine, as a "provocation" intended to escalate tensions.
NATO member Poland called emergency meetings of its national security council and cabinet on Tuesday following unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles had landed on its territory near the Ukrainian border.
"Due to the crisis situation, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki... called a meeting of the National Security Bureau," government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters.
There will also be a cabinet meeting, PAP news agency reported, citing the government.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday it could not confirm reports that Russian missiles have crossed into Poland near the Ukraine border.
"We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland near the Ukraine border. I can tell you that we don't have any information at this time to corroborate those reports and are looking into this further," Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told a news briefing.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday it was unable to corroborate media reports that two Russian missiles had landed inside NATO member Poland, but that it was investigating the claims.
"We are aware of the press reports alleging that two Russian missiles have struck a location inside Poland or the Ukraine border," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
