Andrei Kelin, Putin’s man in London, has been summoned by the Foreign Office after drone incursions into Poland and Romania in the past week
Russia’s ambassador has been summed to the Foreign Office after Vladimir Putin’s drone incursions into NATO countries.
The warmonger’s forces sparked a crisis last week when drones were shot down in Poland, and on Sunday Romania said it had discovered a similar violation. The incidents are a huge escalation that could draw allies including Britain into direct confrontation with Russia.
Andrei Kelin, Putin’s man in London, was summoned on Monday. In a statement the Foreign Office said: “Significant and unprecedented violation of Polish and NATO airspace by Russian drones last week – followed by a further incursion into Romanian airspace on Saturday – was utterly unacceptable.
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“The UK stands united with Poland, Romania, Ukraine and our NATO Allies in unreservedly condemning these reckless actions. As our continent once again faces the egregious expansion of Russia’s reckless behaviour, defence of Ukraine against Putin’s aggression is crucial to the security of the whole of Europe, including the UK.”
In a warning to Putin, the Government said NATO members would not be cowed. The statement continued: “The response of NATO forces demonstrates the seriousness with which NATO is treating Russia’s actions. And as the Secretary General announced on Friday, alongside NATO Allies we are bolstering our defences along the eastern flank, using new technologies such as counter-drone sensors and weapons.
“Russia should understand that its continued aggression only strengthens the unity between NATO allies and our determination to stand with Ukraine, and any further incursions will again be met with force. Russia must end its illegal war on Ukraine.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the violation in Romania “yet another unacceptable breach of an EU member state’s sovereignty”.
After Poland’s breach on Wednesday, Warsaw requested NATO to trigger Article 4 of the treaty, which is considered the starting point for major NATO operations. The alliance scrambled F-16s on Saturday after Putin flew drones – that were destined for Ukrainian targets – into Romanian airspace.
The country’s defence ministry said a drone had entered their airspace while Moscow pounded neighbouring Ukraine with drone strikes.
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