To begin with, a well-known fact. For the first time, a Russian missile attacked Polish territory at the end of 2022. Since then, missiles and drones have repeatedly violated Polish airspace. Yet during all this time, Poland has NEVER once shot down such targets. And NEVER once did Polish officials say in their statements that it was specifically Russian weapons.For some, this may have seemed strange: Russian missiles and drones regularly attack your country with dozens of tons of explosives, yet the state neither reacts nor comments.That’s why today’s tweet by Donald Tusk caused a sensation: “Polish airspace was violated by numerous Russian drones. Those that posed a direct threat were shot down.”It is difficult to say what Poland’s next steps will be. By diplomatic protocol, Warsaw should summon the Russian ambassador. Moscow, in turn, will either have to apologize for the “accidental incursion” of its drones or shift the blame onto Ukraine, British intelligence, or even Donald Tusk himself.Clearly, this is a provocation not so much against Poland as against U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin sees himself as such a “historic figure” that he does not regard Poland as a worthy partner for dialogue. That is why one can say that last night the Russians attacked Poland, but hit Trump.When you pompously open a Ministry of War, post photos in the style of a tough ranger, and project the image of a “global leader,” letting such strikes from “friend Vladimir” pass unanswered is nothing short of humiliating. The U.S. administration will be forced to respond to attacks on NATO territory, even if it had no desire to do so. And American politicians are already writing about this openly: just look at the late-night tweets of Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, and many others.But first, Poland itself must decide. Nineteen heavy attack drones in its sovereign airspace are not a “navigational error.” Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated that the country has initiated consultations with NATO members under Article 4 of the treaty, due to the threat to its territorial integrity, independence, or security.Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that Poland, like all Alliance members, must recognize that this is not a local conflict in Ukraine but a full-scale Russian war against the entire West. He stressed that Poland must understand that Ukraine is fighting not only for its own independence but also for the independence of many other states, including Poland.Since such a situation has arisen for the first time in NATO’s history, it is difficult to predict the consequences. What can be said with certainty is that NATO’s lack of response to an attack on a member state could destroy the Alliance as a defense union. And there is no doubt that none of its members fail to recognize this threat or would want NATO to collapse at this moment.About the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament.The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog or column authors.