The incident, which saw more than a dozen Russian drones cross into Polish airspace before being intercepted and shot down by NATO fighter jets, is being called one of the most dangerous moments of the war since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. The operation marked the first time NATO forces have fired in direct defense of a member state since the conflict erupted.
Trump’s comment comes just 26 days after his high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska — a summit that was widely watched for signs of progress toward a ceasefire. While Trump has insisted he can “end the war in 24 hours,” the latest incursion underscores how far that goal remains from reality.
Amid mounting frustration in Washington and European capitals, Trump has floated the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Moscow but has yet to reveal specifics. So far, his administration’s only additional punitive measure has been a new trade penalty on India for continuing energy purchases from Russia, which critics have described as insufficient.
According to a statement from the Polish president’s office, Trump spoke by phone with Polish President Karol Nawrocki shortly after the incident. The two leaders “confirmed allied unity” and discussed the rapid deployment of additional U.S. assets to Poland, including the possible redeployment of a Patriot missile battery closer to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Warsaw has also pushed to accelerate the delivery of F-35 fighter jets it purchased from the United States, with the first four set to arrive in January but potentially expedited given the new security crisis.
Behind the scenes, NATO ambassadors have convened under Article 4 — a rare step used when member states believe their security is threatened — to consider collective responses. A Polish official told CNN that Warsaw wants deployment of additional forces “immediately,” warning that Article 4 only has teeth if backed by concrete action.
Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, was already en route to Poland when the drones crossed the border. He is expected to brief officials in Warsaw before continuing on to Kyiv in the coming days, underscoring the heightened urgency of diplomatic efforts.
European leaders also weighed in. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken directly with Trump about both the Russian incident and ongoing instability in the Middle East. “Together, we are in a position to make a decisive contribution to peace and security,” Macron posted on X.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland spoke with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom, who signaled their readiness to provide additional assistance — whether through bilateral aid or as part of a coordinated NATO response.
Just one day before the drone incursion, Trump had met with European officials in Washington to discuss raising tariffs on buyers of Russian energy, particularly China and India, to as high as 100% in a bid to squeeze Moscow’s war financing.
Still, the White House has not clarified what Trump’s cryptic “Here we go!” comment portends — whether it signals imminent sanctions, a stepped-up U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe, or simply a warning shot to Moscow.
For now, NATO’s military posture is shifting quickly, with additional air patrols and surveillance flights over Poland and the Baltic states. Analysts say this latest incident could mark a dangerous turning point — and a critical test of Trump’s resolve to defend NATO’s eastern flank.