Nato announces more air support to defend Poland against future Russian incursions

Germany has committed four Typhoon fighters to the mission.
France, Germany and Denmark will contribute fighter jets and other military assets to an enhanced defence of Poland against future Russian drone incursions, Nato leaders announced at a press conference on Friday.
The UK is also expected contribute to the Eastern Sentry mission, which will gradually be expanded across from the Arctic in the north to the Black Sea and Mediterranean in the south to better tackle Russian drones and missiles.
Mark Rutte, Natoâs secretary general, said: âIn addition to more traditional military capabilities, this effort will also feature elements designed to address the particular challenges associated with the use of drones.âÂ
In the early hours of Wednesday 21 Russian drones, thought to be unarmed decoys, crossed the border into Poland. Only three or four were said to have be shot down and one drone flew 160 miles into the country, forcing the closure of four airports.
At the time, Donald Trump said the incursion âcould have been an mistakeâ, but he added: âRegardless, Iâm not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation.âÂ
Polish leaders were more certain. Donald Tusk, the countryâs prime minister, posted on social media in English: âWe would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasnât. And we know it.âÂ
Rutte, however, remained on the fence. He said on Friday that Natoâs âassessment of the incidents on Wednesday is ongoingâ, though he stressed that âwhether or not Russiaâs actions were deliberate, Russia violated Nato airspaceâ, necessitating a response.
âRussiaâs recklessness in the air along our eastern flank is increasing in frequency,â Rutte added. âWe have seen drones violate our airspace in Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania â whether intentional or not, it is dangerous and unacceptable.âÂ
Standing alongside him was Natoâs most senior military chief, Gen Alexus Grynkewich, who said Nato engaged in âa highly successful operationâ intercepting the drones with F-35 fighters from the Netherlands â but added: âWe always learn something in the debrief.â
The American commander suggested it was the number of Russian drones that raised questions. The âscale of the incursionâ was âobviously larger than previous incursions that weâve hadâ and that âbringing additional resources to bear on this problem will help solve thatâ.
Denmark will contribute two F-16 jets and an anti-air warfare frigate to the effort, France three Rafale figthers and Germany four Typhoons. Nato military planners said the UK âhas also expressed its willingness to supportâ the effort.
On Wednesday, the UK defence secretary, John Healey, said he had asked the British military to look at options for enhanced support for Poland amid hints from officials that the deployment of up to six Typhoons was under consideration.
Russia, meanwhile, said that peace talks had stalled. Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putinâs spokesperson, told reporters: âOur negotiators have the opportunity to communicate through channels. But for now, it is probably more accurate to talk about a pause.âÂ
In Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there was no sign that Russiaâs ambitions to dominate its neighbour had changed.
âPutinâs goal is to occupy all of Ukraine. And no matter what he tells anyone, it is clear that he has set the war machine in motion to such an extent that he simply cannot stop it unless he is forced to fundamentally change his personal goals.âÂ
The Ukrainian leader also welcomed Trumpâs Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, to Kyiv and said he was willing to offer him citizenship because Russia does not bomb the capital when he is visiting. Some believe this follows direct requests made by the White House to the Kremlin.
âWhen Keith Kellogg is in Kyiv, the residents of Kyiv can sleep soundly. Thank you. I would like you to visit all cities in Ukraine,â Zelensky said. âI am ready to grant Gen Kellogg citizenship. We can give him an apartment â anything he needs, if it will prompt Russia to cease fire.âÂ
Yvette Cooper, the UK foreign secretary, was also in Kyiv on Friday, her first foreign trip since she was appointed last week during a cabinet reshuffle. Cooper said her visit, which was accompanied by an announcement of a new package of British sanctions on Russia, was intended to reiterate British support for Kyiv.
âThe UK will not stand idly by as Putin continues his barbaric invasion of Ukraine,â she said. âInternational action to increase economic pressure on Russia and to cut off critical cash flows which he desperately needs to pay for this illegal war is vital.â