Poland's foreign minister said Friday that it's "not unthinkable" that NATO troops could enter Ukraine amid the country's ongoing defense against Russia's invasion.
Radek Sikorski raised the possibility during a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Poland's NATO membership, according to the Associated Press, and the ministry later posted his comments in English to social media.
"The presence of #NATO forces in Ukraine is not unthinkable," Sikorski said, according to a post on X, saying that the potential move is "about [Russian President Vladimir] Putin being afraid, not us being afraid of Putin."
(Photo : (Photo by Sergei GUNEYEV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GUNEYEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images))
Sikorski's statement came a little over a week after French President Emmanuel Macron said that he could not rule out the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine. Other Western nations - including Poland - distanced themselves from Macron's remarks, and France's defense and foreign ministers rushed to clarify that any troops deployed would be used in non-combat roles.
In his comments Friday, Sikorski voiced appreciation for Macron's stance.
Russia has warned that the presence of NATO combat troops in Ukraine would be viewed as an escalation of the war, and risk nuclear conflict.
Poland shares a border with Ukraine, making it particularly invested in ensuring that Russia does not succeed in its invasion.
