NATO head says missile that hit Poland was likely fired by

Ukraine's defenses, but Russia bears "ultimate

responsibility"
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that early investigations suggest a
deadly strike in Poland on Tuesday was "likely" caused by a Ukrainian air defense
missile.

"Our preliminary analysis suggests that the incident was likely caused by the Ukrainian
air defense missile fired to defend Ukrainian territory against Russian cruise missile
attacks," Stoltenberg said during a Wednesday news conference in Brussels. 

But let me be clear, this is not Ukraine's fault," he added. "Russia bears ultimate
responsibility, as it continues its illegal war against Ukraine." 

"We have no indication that Russia is preparing offensive military actions against
NATO," the alliance chief said.

The landing of a deadly missile in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine on
Tuesday marked the first time a NATO country had been directly hit during the conflict.
Leaders at the G20 summit in Bali have since scrambled to diffuse the fallout from the
incident.

Stoltenberg also said the missile incident demonstrates the war "continues to create
dangerous situations" and that the conflict is "President [Vladimir] Putin's responsibility."

"I think this [missile incident] demonstrates the dangers are connected to the ongoing
war in Ukraine, but hasn't changed our fundamental assessment of the threat against
the NATO allies," he said. 

Stoltenberg said the investigation into the missile incident in Poland is ongoing and
NATO will continue to monitor the situation "very closely." 

"We need to stay vigilant, calm and closely coordinated," he said.