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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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Kremlin propagandists have disparaged NATO members' reaction to Europe's condemnation of Moscow after Russian drones breached the territory of Poland.
Poland has invoked NATO's Article 4 for deliberations over what to do next after it said 19 drones entered its airspace, and up to four were shot down.
But those appearing on the Russia 1 channel mocked the international outcry as "squealing."
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Russian State Duma MP Alexey Zhuravlyov said Europe had been shown to be weak while anchor, Olga Skabeyeva said President Donald Trump is more interested in economic deals with Russia than punishing it.
Newsweek has contacted NATO via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
Russian state television does not necessarily reflect Kremlin thinking, but the country's media have pushed the line that Moscow did not deliberately launch the objects.
As tensions between the alliance and Moscow increase, the propagandists' reactions point to Kremlin messaging that it is unconcerned about what Europe says and does not fear either it or Trump's response.
What To Know
In a segment of the show 60 Minutes shared by Russia watcher and journalist Julia Davis, anchor Olga Skabeyeva said that Trump had ignored a journalist's question about whether the drones in Poland were due to an act of aggression.
She also said that Vice President JD Vance had outlined if there were a deal to end the war in Ukraine, Trump would be open to trade agreements with Russia and that he saw no point in its economic isolation.
Vance made the comments on the right-wing channel One America News after the drones entered Poland when he was asked if sanctions relief and more economic cooperation could end the war.
Vance said it was "one of the carrots that we've thrown out there" as he referred to the oil, gas and mineral wealth Russia possesses that the U.S. could benefit from.
Skabeyeva suggested that there was a split between the U.S. attitude to sanctions and how European leaders wanted Washington to join their latest package of embargoes.
Vance has previously said that imposing new sanctions on Russia to pressure President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine are not off the table.
Zhuravlyov, a nationalist MP from the Rodina party who has made nuclear threats against the West on state television before, said that after the drones flew into Poland "all of Europe is squealing."
He said if Russia really wanted to cause Poland problems it would strike Rzeszow, a Polish city close to the Ukrainian border which had been a hub for the U.S. military and Western aid efforts.
Drones had entered Poland from an unconfirmed place, many of which were decoys which presented no threat, he said, "but they are squealing."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a statement Wednesday that the alliance was in solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's "reckless behavior."
But Zhuravlyov said that regarding the upcoming NATO meeting, "nothing will come of it."
Meanwhile, Skabeyeva said that the purpose of Europe's "squealing" was to push for further sanctions against Russia to cause an escalation and to "drag Trump over to the party of war."
Zhuravlyov went on to say that global organizations had been discredited and that Russia had its own alliances it could foster, as he pointed to the close ties with North Korea which has provided troops to fight in Moscow's war. "All of us are together, " he said, "we are strong and they are weak."
What People Are Saying
Russian State Duma MP Alexey Zhuravlyov on 60 Minutes: "All of Europe is squealing. What is the point? If we really wanted to cause problems in Poland, we would strike Rzeszow, then everything would be clear."
Russia 1 channel anchor Olga Skabeyeva on 60 Minutes: "President Donald Trump basically ignored a journalist's question about whether what happened was an act of aggression, he chose to remain silent."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a statement: "Russia is waging a dangerous war of aggression against Ukraine that continually targets civilians and civilian infrastructure. Allies are determined to step up their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's escalating campaign.
What Happens Next
Poland announced air traffic had been restricted in the east of the country until December 9, while there are growing calls, such as from Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, for tougher sanctions against Russia.
Meanwhile, eyes will turn to what the diplomatic outcome might be following the meeting of NATO officials as called for by Poland.
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