Related Video: NATO Taking Russian Drones In Poland As Warning, Worries Of Wider War Deepen

President Trump on Thursday brushed off Russian drones that flew into Poland’s airspace earlier this week as a possible mistake, while European leaders have described it as an intentional provocation by Moscow.

“Could have been a mistake. Could have been a mistake,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for New York City. “But regardless, I’m not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation. But hopefully it’s going to come to an end.”

Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland’s airspace earlier this week while Russia was carrying out strikes on neighboring Ukraine. The development raised fears of a potential escalation of the war in Ukraine, which began in 2022 when Russian forces invaded.

NATO fighter jets were deployed to shoot the drones down, marking the first time the alliance has scrambled planes to address a threat in allied airspace.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said it did not target Poland with the drones.

Trump’s comments on Thursday were his first on the incursion since a cryptic Truth Social post on Wednesday.

“What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” Trump wrote.

American and European leaders have long raised concerns that Putin could set his sights on Poland and other neighboring countries if he is successful in his military campaign in Ukraine.

Trump has struggled in his second term to broker a ceasefire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. He and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska in August, but Russia has launched some of its biggest attacks during the war in the weeks since.

Putin has so far rejected Trump’s push for a bilateral or trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Members of Congress have pushed for additional sanctions on Russia, but Trump has also been noncommittal about signing such a package. He suggested “phase two” of sanctions could be coming soon after imposing sanctions on India over its imports of Russian oil.