Ukraine-Russia war live: Poland rejects Trump’s claim that Putin’s drone incursion ‘could’ve been a mistake’ – UK Times

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper is due to travel to Kyiv today in her first overseas visit since being appointed in the role.

The minister will be reaffirming Britain’s commitment to Ukraine with a £142m ($192.75m) winter support aid boost.

Cooper is due to meet president Volodymyr Zelensky and senior Ukrainian officials, to whom she will reaffirm Britain’s commitment to Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression, the government said.

“Ukraine’s security is crucial to the UK’s security,” Cooper said in a statement.

The extra funding package, part of a previously pledged aid programme launched in June, includes £100m in humanitarian assistance for frontline communities and £42m to repair and protect critical energy systems targeted by Russian strikes.

Her visit comes amid heightened tensions following an incursion of Russian drones into Nato airspace in Poland.

Russian anti-aircraft units destroyed or downed nine Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow today, the capital’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said.

Sobyanin said specialist teams were examining fragments of the drones where they had hit the ground.

The governor of Leningrad region, which surrounds Russia’s second largest city, St Petersburg, said anti-aircraft measures were in effect to counter drones.

The measures were in effect for 100km (60 miles) around Pulkovo, St. Petersburg’s airport, he wrote on Telegram. He said the number of enemy drones at issue was being clarified.

The International Monetary Fund spokesperson Julie Kozack said the IMF is committed to working with Ukrainian authorities to shape a new lending program after the war-torn country filed a formal request earlier this week.

Ukraine is spending about 60 per cent of its total budget to fund its battle against Russia’s invasion.

The country relies heavily on financial support from its Western allies to cover the cost of pensions, public sector wages and humanitarian spending.

Ukraine has received about $10.6 billion under its existing $15.6 billion Extended Fund Facility program, but budget experts say its needs are far greater given the ongoing battle against Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and continued damage to critical infrastructure.

US president Donald Trump on Thursday has said that Russia’s drone incursion into Poland could have been a mistake.

“I’m not happy about anything to do with the whole situation, but hopefully that’s going to come to an end,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One.

Trump subsequently added that he would condemn Russia “even for being near that line.”

“I don’t like it,” he continued. “I’m not happy about it.”

“This Russian provocation, as the generals and our soldiers are well aware, was nothing more than an attempt to test our capabilities, our ability to respond,” Polish President Karol Nawrocki told soldiers on Thursday.

It comes after Polish air defences and Nato aircraft sprung into action on Wednesday after 19 objects intruded Polish airspace including drones entering from Belarus, said Polish prime minister Donald Tusk. There have been no injury reports and Moscow has so far denied responsibility for the incident.

Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told parliament on Thursday Poland’s logistical support for Ukraine may have been a motivation for the incursions – most aid for Ukraine transits via Poland.

“This is an attempt to weaken NATO’s and Poland’s willingness to support Ukraine,” he said.