Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has called for British forces to intercept Russian drones and missiles over Ukraine, arguing that such actions would be in line with international law and not an escalation.
Wallace's remarks come amid increasing concerns over Russia's targeting of Ukraine's neighbors, including Poland, Romania, and Moldova, with drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. He stated that "It is the logical next step. There is nothing to stop a country shooting down incoming missiles or drones over Ukraine."
The former minister, who led international support for Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion, emphasized that these actions "can't be viewed as escalatory as the drones are over Ukraine, not Russia."
This position was reinforced by an incident near the Polish border where former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell, and European officials narrowly avoided a Russian drone that struck a train shortly after they had disembarked.
Poland has been at the forefront of calls for NATO allies to increase support and intervention for months, but has reportedly been met with inaction. Ukraine's allies have largely maintained a policy of engaging Russian warheads only after they enter NATO airspace.
Dr. Olga Matveieva, a Ukraine expert at the University of Paderborn in Germany, suggested that ignoring Russia's provocations is no longer a viable option for NATO. The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, also echoed this sentiment, stating that the current tactic is unsustainable due to Russia's aggressive targeting of NATO states and called for increased air defense capabilities for Ukraine.
Wallace's call for direct engagement over Ukraine marks a significant shift from current NATO policy. Russia has previously reacted hostilely to UK support for Ukraine, including the provision of long-range missiles.
Separately, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the death of a second British soldier on operations in Ukraine. The soldier died on Saturday following a "road traffic incident." This follows the death of Lance Corporal George Hooley in December, who was killed while testing defensive capabilities away from the front lines.