1. Various of French Director General of International Relations Alice Rufo, German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence Jens Plötner, UK Defence Secretary John Healey, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Poland’s Director of International Security Policy Marcin Kazmierski (Left to right) standing for news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Healey, UK Defence Secretary:
“And following our discussions today, I’ve asked our UK Armed Forces to look at options to bolster NATO’s air defense over Poland. Today, as E5 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, and your aggression reminds us that a secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine and that the security of Europe starts in Ukraine.”
3. News conference in progress
4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Healey, UK Defence Secretary:
“Well, first our assessment, early assessment seems to be that it was around 20 drones that were part of the attack. Our assessment was that the NATO air defenses worked effectively and we paid tribute to the Poles, the Dutch and other NATO personnel involved. As to whether this was intentional, the effect is the same. It’s tested our NATO defenses. It has breached international law and sovereign airspace, and it is whatever the intent behind it, it’s dangerous. We condemn it. It’s reckless. And we will reinforce where we need to, NATO’s air defense.”
5. News conference in progress
STORYLINE:
UK Defence Secretary John Healey on Wednesday said he’d asked the British armed forces to look at options to bolster NATO’s air defense over Poland.
Poland said Wednesday that several Russian drones entered its territory over the course of many hours and were shot down with help from NATO allies, describing the incursion as an act of aggression carried out during a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it did not target Poland, while Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, said it tracked some drones that “lost their course” because they were jammed.
However, several European leaders said they believe that the incursion amounted to an intentional escalation by Russia of its war on Ukraine — and that it must be met with a strong response.
Healey was speaking at a news conference after a meeting of the E5 group – which consists of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK – held in London to discuss defence and security in Europe.
Poland’s defence minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, had been scheduled to be at the meeting but had flown back home in the morning due to the incident.
Many European leaders, including those in the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia that are the NATO members most nervous about Russian aggression, expressed deep concern.
The incident came three days after Russia’s largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war began, an attack that for the first time hit a key government building in Kyiv.
Credit to : AP Archive