Russia’s ambassador has been summoned by the Foreign Office following Vladimir Putin’s drone violations in NATO countries.
Tensions escalated last week when Russian drones were shot down in Poland, and Romania reported a similar incident on Sunday. These events signify a significant escalation that may potentially lead to direct conflict involving allies like Britain against Russia.
Andrei Kelin, Putin’s representative in London, was called in on Monday. The Foreign Office issued a statement condemning the “significant and unprecedented” airspace violations in Poland and NATO territory by Russian drones, labeling them as completely unacceptable.
“The UK stands in solidarity with Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and our NATO partners in unequivocally denouncing these irresponsible actions. Given the alarming increase in Russia’s provocative behavior, safeguarding Ukraine against Putin’s aggression is vital for Europe’s security, including that of the UK,” the statement read.
In a stern message to Putin, the UK government assured that NATO members will not back down. The statement emphasized NATO’s serious approach towards Russia’s actions, highlighting the bolstering of defenses along the eastern flank with advanced technologies like counter-drone sensors and weapons.
“Russia must realize that its continuous aggression only strengthens the unity among NATO allies and our resolve to support Ukraine. Any further intrusions will be met with force. Russia must cease its unlawful war on Ukraine.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the violation in Romania as “another unacceptable infringement of an EU member state’s sovereignty.”
Following the breach in Poland, which prompted Warsaw to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, signaling the potential for major NATO operations, F-16s were deployed over the weekend after Russian drones, intended for targets in Ukraine, trespassed into Romanian airspace.
The Romanian defense ministry reported a drone incursion while Moscow conducted drone strikes on Ukraine.
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