Vladimir Putin’s Russia is becoming more ‘unpredictable’ than ever before as it attempts to make up for defeats on the battlefield in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said
Russia is becoming ‘more reckless and dangerous’ after a string of defeats in Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary has warned.
At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden today, Yvette Cooper said Vladimir Putin’s forces were appearing increasingly “unpredictable” as they struggled on the battlefield – and warned that the Kremlin was broadening its attacks on the West across “air, land, sea, space and cyber” to divert from the setbacks.
It comes after an unarmed RAF spy plane was “repeatedly and dangerously intercepted” by Russian jets over the Black Sea earlier this week during a routine NATO flight.
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The Russian Su-35 jet flew so close to the British reconnaissance aircraft that it triggered its emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Speaking after the meeting in in Helsingborg, Sweden, today, the Foreign Secretary said: “We discussed in the Nato foreign ministers’ meeting how Russia ’s weakening on the battlefield against Ukraine is also making them more reckless and dangerous.
“In the face of that threat and the ongoing global instability, the Nato alliance is vital and enduring, but within it Europe and the UK must do more. We have already been stepping up with significantly increased defence investment but we have to face up to the need to do much more so we properly protect our citizens. “Russia is now under huge pressure from Ukraine’s military response and from economic challenges but that is making them more unpredictable with escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians, increasing hybrid threats across the continent, and reports of drone incursions. “The threat from Russia is increasing on air, land, sea, space, cyber and information warfare.” Earlier this week, London made formal representations to Moscow after two Russian jets intercepted an unarmed RAF spy plane above the Black Sea.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and leaders from France and Germany meanwhile vowed to “double down” on their support for Ukraine in a separate virtual meeting today, Number 10 said.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister held a virtual meeting with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of France Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this afternoon.
“President Zelensky updated on the progress made by Ukraine’s military in recent weeks, as it continues to ramp up its defence in the face of (Russian president Vladimir) Putin’s continued attacks.
“The leaders paid tribute to the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people and confirmed they would double down on their support in the coming months.
“They agreed that standing up to Russian aggression remains vital for European and global security, and reaffirmed their commitment to securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
