Nusa Dua (Indonesia): US President Biden called the Russian bombing of Ukrainian civilians 'barbaric' after the 'emergency' meeting with NATO and G7 leaders which he had convened earlier in the day. "Earlier, I met with G20 and NATO Leaders to discuss the explosion in Eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. We offer our full support for and assistance with Poland’s ongoing investigation. We also reaffirmed our continued readiness to hold Russia accountable for its brazen attacks on Ukraine, even as the G20 meets to deal with the wider impacts of the war. And we all express our condolences to the families of the victims in Poland and Ukraine."
NATO and G7 leaders on Wednesday condemned the "barbaric" missile attacks that Russia perpetrated on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. "We discussed the explosion that took place in the eastern part of Poland near the border with Ukraine," the joint statement of NATO and G7 Leaders read who gathered at an 'emergency' meeting convened by US President Joe Biden on the margins of the G20Summit in Bali.
"We offer full support and assistance with Poland’s investigation and reaffirm our steadfast support for Ukraine and it is people as well as our readiness to hold Russia accountable for its brazen attacks, even as G20 meets to deal with wider impacts of war," the statement read.
Biden had called for consultations after NATO-ally Poland said a "Russian-made" missile killed two people in the eastern part of its country near the Ukraine border. Biden, who was awakened overnight by staff with the news of the missile explosion, called Polish President Andrzej Duda early Wednesday to express his "deep condolences" for the loss of life. The U.S. president promised "full U.S support for and assistance with Poland's investigation," and "reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to NATO."
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a telephone conversation with the Foreign Ministers of Poland and Ukraine about the explosion and assured support for the investigation. "I spoke this morning from Bali with Polish Foreign Minister Rau and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba regarding the explosion in eastern Poland. We pledged to remain closely coordinated in the days ahead as the investigation proceeds and we determine appropriate next steps," he tweeted.
A statement from the Polish Foreign Ministry identified the missile as being made in Russia. But Poland's president, Duda, was more cautious about its origin, saying that officials did not know for sure who fired it or where it was made. He said it was "most probably" Russian-made, but that is being still verified. If confirmed, it would be the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that a Russian weapon came down on a NATO country. The foundation of the NATO alliance is the principle that an attack against one member is an attack on them all. (With Agency inputs)
