LONDON (Reuters) – Britain has summoned the Russian ambassador following Russia’s violation of NATO airspace last week, the British Foreign Office said on Monday.
Poland shot down Russian drones last Wednesday in the first known action of its kind by a member of the Western military alliance during Russia’s war in Ukraine. Days later, Romania scrambled jets when a Russian drone breached its airspace.
The incursions into NATO airspace were “utterly unacceptable”, a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the UK stands united with its NATO allies in condemning the “reckless actions”.
“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,” the spokesperson added.
Russia’s embassy in London said on Tuesday that Ambassador Andrei Kelin had received a “formal protest”.
“The British side was reminded that there had been no plans to target any facilities on Polish territory during the recent air strikes against the installations of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex,” the embassy said in a statement on its Telegram channel.
“We reiterate that Russia has no interest in heightening tensions with Poland or NATO.”
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Writing by Sarah Young; Editing by William James and Editing by Kevin Liffey)
