![Illustration,Of,The,Tensions,Between,Ukraine,And,Russia.,Military,Conflict.](https://www.newshouse.org/cloner/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2022/11/shutterstock_2129332580.jpg)
Russia has attacked Europe. This is not a drill.
Reports of a Russian missile strike have been confirmed as of Tuesday evening. Two are listed dead in Poland.
The strikes hit near the Ukraine border in the Polish town of Przewodow.
Poland is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as are the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and many more nations.
Is This World War Three?
Let’s cut to the chase: is this World War Three?
The short answer is maybe. The very real possibility exists of a full-scale military response and strikes on Russian assets inside Ukraine.
NATO’s Article 5 means all 30 member states respond with troops and military force if a member is attacked.
Some are calling for that to now be invoked and European and NATO states have weighed in with support for their fellow “democracy” in Poland.
It’s worth recalling that World War Two began when German troops invaded Poland, triggering a declaration of war from the United Kingdom and several European allies.
For its part, Poland says the investigation is ongoing. Russia says this is a false flag attack and is a “deliberate” escalation to try to provide a pretext for Europe to get involved directly in the Ukraine war.
According to Russia, the Przewodow strike has “nothing to do” with them.
Russia launched hundreds of missile attacks across Ukraine on Tuesday.
The amount of people clamoring for NATO Article 5 to be invoked over the Poland missile strike is pure insanity to me
Cooler heads must prevail, World War III must be avoided
— Tony (@allthatyazzz) November 15, 2022
Ukraine Blames Russia
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 of this year and the nation has been fighting for its life ever since along with arms and materiel support from the US and NATO.
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike in Poland was definitely done by Russia and is a direct “escalation” in their war of aggression.
Ballistics experts have not yet weighed in, and the White House has held back from public comment as of this writing, saying they are working with Poland to look into this incident.
European allies have all expressed strong support of Ukraine and stated their belief that Russia must be stopped.
What stopping Russia might look like remains to be seen. The most likely outcome is that Article 4 of NATO’s treaty will be invoked, not Article 5.
Article 5 has only been declared and enacted once in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
The Russian missile screw-up that ended up killing two Poles will result in NATO invoking article 4 not article 5 (see below). The consultation will probably result in more support for Ukraine, particularly air and anti-air power. Will give Poland some real influence. pic.twitter.com/n92JHvFqGv
— Phillips P. OBrien (@PhillipsPOBrien) November 15, 2022
What is Article 4?
Article 4 is basically one step below Article 5. It means heavily arming Ukraine to an even greater degree than is already being done and basically fighting against Russia in all but name.
There is no way to deny what is now happening: this war is escalating and spreading out of control.
How will the United States respond?
We will continue to follow this breaking news as it develops.