{"id":413259,"date":"2025-09-10T13:47:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T13:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/413259\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T13:47:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T13:47:15","slug":"poland-closer-to-conflict-than-at-any-time-since-ww2-as-uk-forces-are-asked-to-bolster-nato-air-defences-live-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/413259\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland \u2018closer to conflict than at any time since WW2\u2019 as UK forces are asked to bolster Nato air defences \u2013 live | Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Putin \u2018hits new level of hostility against Europe\u2019, UK defence minister says, asks UK armed forces to look at bolstering Nato’s air defence over Poland<\/p>\n

UK defence secretary John Healey <\/strong>is now speaking after the E5 meeting of France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Poland in London, responding to the overnight Russian drone incursion in Polish air space.<\/p>\n

\"GroupGroup of Five defence ministers\u2019 meeting at Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, in London. Photograph: Jaimi Joy\/Reuters<\/p>\n

He says:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe face a new era of threat. War in Europe,<\/strong> rising Russian aggression, and last night, Putin hit a new level of hostility against Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We saw across Nato\u2019s eastern border a serious violation of Polish airspace, deep enough for Warsaw airport to be closed, and Nato jets shooting down Russian drones in what is the first defensive action of its kind since Putin launched his full scale attack on Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And just at the same period as Russia\u2019s attacks on Ukraine intensify, as prime minister Starmer said this morning, these moves, he said, only serve to remind us of President Putin\u2019s blatant disregard for peace.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So together, we, the E5 totally condemn these attacks.<\/strong> Russian actions are reckless. They are dangerous. They are unprecedented.<\/p>\n

We see what Putin is doing yet again. He is testing us yet again.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He noted the Polish defence minister \u201crightly returned home\u201d overnight to be in Warsaw to coordinate next steps, as he paid tribute \u201cto the Polish and Nato personnel involved in such a rapid and effective defensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Addressing the Polish people, he says \u201cas your Nato ally, we will support you;<\/strong> our Polish friends, as your Nato ally, we will play our part to help secure the safety of your people.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says he has asked the UK armed forces \u201cto look at options to bolster Nato\u2019s air defence over Poland<\/a>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cToday, as a five nations, we say to President Putin: your aggression only serves to strengthen the unity between our Nato nations; your aggression only serves to strengthen our determination to stand with Ukraine,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Defence minister from Italy and junior ministers from Italy, France also offered their solidarity with Poland.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a009.18 EDT<\/p>\n

Key events<\/p>\n