| Intelligence indicates Russian made missile was fired by Ukraine |
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Some of the damage after an explosion in the village of Przewodów near Poland’s border with Ukraine © Reuters Joe Biden said it was “unlikely” a missile that landed in Poland killing two people was fired from Russia, as the US president sought to ease concerns at a dangerous moment in the nine-month conflict in Ukraine. Nato and G20 leaders held emergency talks overnight after a “Russian made missile” struck the Polish village of Przewodów, five miles from the border with Ukraine in the south-east of the country. Photographs posted on social media showed a damaged farm vehicle lying on its side next to a large crater. Local media reported the casualties were farm workers. Findings from initial investigations suggest that the weapon could have been fired by Ukraine’s air defence system at a Russian missile before landing in Poland, according to people familiar with the discussions. Yesterday Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles at targets across Ukraine, including civilian buildings and the energy infrastructure. The attack came just days after Russia was forced to withdraw from the strategically important city of Kherson. The Russian attack came as Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, told fellow world leaders at the G20 summit in Bali via video link that while he was open to peace talks to end the war, he would not pause fighting over winter. “I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped,” he said. Last night’s incident highlights the risk of the conflict in Ukraine escalating into a direct confrontation between Russia and a member of the Nato military alliance. After an emergency meeting of Poland’s security council last night, President Andrzej Duda sought to calm speculation that the strike was directed by Moscow. “There is no conclusive evidence about who fired the rocket,” said Duda. Biden said there was “preliminary information that contests” the missile was fired from Russia. “It is unlikely in the lines of the trajectory that it was fired from Russia, but we’ll see,” the US president told reporters. Russia’s defence ministry denied responsibility, adding that claims the missile was fired by its forces were a “deliberate provocation with the goal of escalating the situation”. Poland is considering whether to invoke Article 4 of the Nato treaty at a meeting of the US-led military alliance later today. Article 4 allows for consultations between Nato countries if any member is “threatened”. If Article 5 is triggered that would require other Nato members to come to Poland’s defence and would represent a considerable escalation in the conflict.
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