The bipartisan leaders of the US Helsinki Commission are calling on President Biden to allow Poland to expand its air defenses in the skies over Ukraine, helping shoot down Russian missiles in self-defense.
As The Hill notes, Republican Joe Wilson and Democrat Steve Cohen sent a corresponding letter to Biden with a request to “give Poland the authority to intercept and neutralize missiles over Ukraine, especially those that threaten to violate Polish airspace.” Poland is looking to expand its air defenses to protect the skies from Russian missiles, but it will also help Ukraine defend itself.
“In this context, the request to grant Poland permission to intercept and neutralize missiles over Ukraine is both necessary and urgent as a mechanism for supporting Ukraine and protecting the front line of NATO’s borders,” the appeal reads.
In November 2022, two Polish farmers died because a Ukrainian Air Defense missile fell on Polish territory. In March 2024, Russian missiles attacking Ukraine entered Polish airspace.