WW3 fears rising as Andy Burnham advised ‘be extra frank’ about ‘very critical’ state of affairs
Prominent UK commentators are calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take a credible military threat from Russia far more seriously, with Poland’s Prime Minister also admitting concerns
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing calls to take a threat from Russia seriously(Image: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press v)
Andy Burnham is facing calls to take a military threat from Russia more seriously following warnings that Vladimir Putin may be plotting to strike the UK.
Poland’s Prime Minister revealed on Thursday evening that Russia is gearing up to launch missile strikes on countries supporting Ukraine. Donald Tusk issued the stark warning of escalating conflict after his nation was forced to close its airspace and airports amid the Kremlin’s.
Now experts in the UK are pleading with Prime Minister Andy Burnham to fully consider the danger posed by Russia.
Commentators in the UK are worried about what Vladimir Putin might do (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
This morning (September 18), security correspondent Deborah Haynes wrote on X that the escalating warnings from Poland “would surely require the UK to be part of any response – collective or otherwise”. Elsewhere political commentator Tim Shipman said: “Time for the government here [in the UK] to say something?”
Former Tory MP Simon Clarke, the director of the think tank Onward, said: “The Government cannot sustain its position on deferring *even setting out a plan* for increased defence spending until next year”.
He added: “Things may be about to become very serious indeed – much more so than is widely appreciated.”
Vladimir Putin has often made threats to the West (stock)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Mark Rutte, NATO chief, said that the UK needs a ‘credible path’ towards meeting its defence spending target with ‘yearly increments’. If Russia was to launch missile strikes on British facilities, this would represent a dramatic escalation of the conflict.
Russian drone attacks and reconnaissance missions within NATO airspace have occurred before, but not missile strikes.
The aerial bombardment in Poland took place just days after a railway station close to the border was nearly struck by a high-speed jet-powered drone while Western officials including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were on board.
Russia boasts a powerful arsenal of explosive missiles (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
Mr Tusk told Polish MPs: “We know he is plotting something bad. However, for us the most important task is to prepare for various scenarios.
“We will certainly not naively accept such messages that Russia has goodwill and will start behaving properly. There is no indication of this.”
Tusk continued, stating that the intelligence was ‘very consistent and convincing’, warning that Russia might portray future strikes as accidental. He further commented that Russia is looking to test NATO’s resolve in an unprecedented way in the coming months.
