Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview with Fox that there is “tremendous hatred” between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, adding that “patience with Putin is running out very quickly.”
This comes as Russia and its key ally, Belarus, launched joint strategic military exercises, further escalating tensions with NATO countries. The drills began after Poland accused Moscow of launching attack drones into its airspace. In response, Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski announced the closure of all remaining operational border crossings with Belarus from midnight. The minister, speaking at the Terespol crossing, cited the “Zapad-2025” exercises as the reason, stating traffic would only resume once Polish security could be guaranteed.
The closure, which applies to people and vehicles including freight trucks and trains, was initially announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on September 9th. Belarus’s foreign ministry condemned Warsaw’s decision, calling it unfounded and directed against ordinary people.
In reaction to the drone incursion, France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, announced the summoning of the Russian ambassador in Paris, stating France “will not be intimidated” and that the act was “absolutely unacceptable.” Germany’s foreign office echoed this on social media, writing that “Putin is acting dangerously and unacceptably” and that “NATO is united in defending our territory.”
Prime Minister Tusk directly contradicted suggestions from Donald Trump that the drone strike may have been an error, stating, “We too would have liked the drone attack on Poland to have been a mistake. But it was not. And we know it well.”
The European Union expressed full solidarity with Poland, with a Commission spokesperson confirming that Russian and Belarusian envoys were summoned for separate meetings where the EU delivered a “firm condemnation” of the airspace violation. The spokesperson reiterated the EU’s continued support for Ukraine and commitment to increasing costs for Russia.
NATO sources indicate that allies are discussing the establishment of an aerial “buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine—a limited no-fly zone—to intercept any future ordnance before it enters NATO airspace. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is reportedly developing various measures to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 221 Ukrainian drones overnight, one of the largest attacks in the three-and-a-half-year conflict. Drones were reportedly intercepted over the Moscow region and near St. Petersburg.
In a related development, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are currently “on pause.” While communication channels exist, Peskov noted a hiatus in talks and accused Europeans of “disturbing” the process, though he reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to pursue a peaceful dialogue.