Nato countries scrambled more fighter jets after Russian planes neared Latvian airspace, the latest in a string of apparent provocations by Moscow.
Hungarian fighter jets intercepted a five-aircraft Russian flight over the Baltic Sea near the Latvian coast on Thursday, the Nato Allied Air Command said on Facebook.
The jets were “flying close to Nato airspace, not complying with international flight safety regulations,” the command said. They did not say that Nato airspace had been encroached.
Hungarian Gripen fighters returned safely to their base in Šiauliai, Lithuania, after the interception.
It came as US and Canada scrambled fighter jets to identify and intercept four Russian military planes off Alaska last night as concern grows over Moscow’s incursions repeated into Nato airspace.
Donald Trump did not comment on Thursday’s incident in a press conference but lashed out at Vladimir Putin for “killing people for no reason whatsoever”.
Zelensky’s chief-of-staff has said that King Charles was a vital influence on the US president’s U-turn on the conflict this week, followed by his recent state visit to the UK.
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Key Points
- Nato jets intercept five Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea near Latvia
- King was key influence on Trump's Ukraine U-turn
- Trump open to lifting restrictions on Ukraine hitting mainland Russia
- Zelensky says Ukraine airspace violated by reconnaissance drones, likely Hungarian
- Large unidentified drones spotted near Swedish archipelago
- Rutte backs calls to shoot down Russian aircraft that violate Nato airspace
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales pleads guilty to Russian bribery charges
09:30
,
Shahana Yasmin
Reform UK’s former leader in Wales has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight bribery charges while an elected member of the European parliament.
The charges stated that Nathan Gill, as an elected member of the European parliament for the constituency of Wales in the UK, “agreed to receive financial advantage, namely money”, which constituted “the improper performance” as the holder of an elected office.
At his last court appearance, it was alleged that the 52-year-old made statements in the European parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were “supportive of a particular narrative” that would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”.
King key influence on Trump's U-turn on Ukraine
09:12
,
Athena Stavrou
The King is said to have been a vital influence on Donald Trump’s dramatic U-turn on the war in Ukraine.
This week, Trump went from urging Kyiv to make territorial concessions to insisting it can win back all of the territory captured by Russia since 2022.
President Zelensky’s chief of staff revealed the US President’s state visit to the UK played a huge role in his change of position.
Asked whether the Ukrainian delegation had changed Mr Trump’s mind, Andriy Yermak, said: “I’d like to mention that it was a great visit of President Trump to the United Kingdom, and I know the position of His Majesty, the position of Prime Minister Starmer and the people whom President Trump met… it was very important,
The King mentioned the war in Ukraine as he addressed the state dinner held in Mr Trump’s honour at Windsor Castle.
“Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” Charles said.
“In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
Can Ukraine actually win the war? How Trump’s comments have rattled Russia
08:30
,
Shahana Yasmin
Donald Trump has made a unique and sudden intellectual contribution to the future of Ukraine and European defence, shifting the debate away from an assumption that Kyiv must negotiate or die, to a belief that it could destroy the Kremlin’s army.
This remarkable volte-face is being seized upon in Europe with as much vigour as was evident in the effort to look away when Trump backed Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, or when he threatened to invade Denmark and Canada.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant faces record power outage, raising safety concerns
08:10
,
Shahana Yasmin
External power to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been cut for over three days, a record outage that has prompted major safety fears.
The plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, is running on emergency generators to power critical cooling systems after its last power line was severed on Tuesday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called the situation “deeply concerning,” with experts warning of increased risks of a nuclear accident.
While Russian operators claim they have enough diesel to power backup generators for 20 days, the IAEA has warned that the loss of external power heightens the risk of a nuclear accident.
Zelensky hints at targeting Russian power centers in retaliation for attacks
07:50
,
Shahana Yasmin
Volodymyr Zelensky warned that if Russia won’t end the war, Kremlin officials “have to know where the bomb shelters are”.
Zelensky told Axios that Ukraine “would not bomb civilians” but insisted Moscow’s centers of power could be targeted if attacks continue.
“They have to know where the bomb shelters are. They need it. If they will not stop the war, they will need it in any case,” he said.
“They have to know that we in Ukraine, each day, we will answer. If they attack us, we will answer them.”
Speaking after a meeting with Donald Trump, Zelensky said he requested a new weapons system, later confirmed by sources as the Tomahawk long‑range missile, that would push Vladimir Putin toward talks.
Can Ukraine regain all the land lost to Russia? Maps show huge scale of task despite Trump’s call to ‘fight and win’
07:30
,
Shahana Yasmin
Donald Trump has claimed that Ukraine could win back all of the land captured by Russia since the beginning of its invasion in February 2022, in a major shift in his position on the war.
The US president said in a Truth Social post that Kyiv’s military could win “all of Ukraine back in its original form”, adding that Putin and Russia are in “BIG economic trouble”.
Military experts say Ukraine could push Russia back towards the border as it stood in 2022, and force Vladimir Putin to seek a peace deal – but only in the presence of a strict, and unlikely, set of conditions.
The Independent asked three experts with knowledge of Russia’s military, its economy, and the front line in Ukraine whether Trump’s claim could be realised.
Drone strike sparks fire at Russian oil refinery as Ukraine ramps up attacks
07:10
,
Shahana Yasmin
A Ukrainian drone attack in southern Russia sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar region on Friday, igniting a primary refining unit.
The blaze has since been extinguished, and authorities have begun assessing the damage, reported Reuters.
The Afipsky refinery, which processes millions of tons of crude oil annually, was also hit by a drone at the end of August, causing further damage to its operations.
This is the latest in a series of drone strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure, which has targeted refineries and key pipelines. These attacks have disrupted fuel supplies, prompting Russia to consider limiting gasoline and diesel exports.
EU moves forward with drone wall plan and €140bn loan for Ukraine
06:50
,
Shahana Yasmin
The European Union is pushing forward with plans to build a “drone wall” to protect its eastern borders after several drone incidents in Poland, Romania, and Estonia.
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius stressed on the urgency of implementing better detection systems and tools to destroy incoming drones, including radars and acoustic sensors.
“The repeated violations of our airspace are unacceptable. The message is clear: Russia is testing the EU and NATO. And our response must be firm, united and immediate,” he said.
This comes as EU leaders also consider a €140bn interest-free loan for Ukraine, backed by Russia’s frozen assets in European banks. The loan would help Ukraine continue its fight without immediately seizing Russian funds. EU officials are working on a legal framework that could be approved by the end of October, with Germany and France now backing the proposal.
Fighter jets waving at Nato and Alaska incursions: Every time Russia has tested the airspace of Ukraine’s allies
06:30
,
Shahana Yasmin
Russian pilots who entered Estonian airspace waved at Italian pilots flying Nato’s most advanced jets during a tense 12-minute standoff, according to reports.
During this time, the three Russian nuclear-capable MiG-31 jets and two Italian F-35 pilots had no radio contact with each other.
It is the latest in a series of provocations by the Russian military, which has repeatedly sent drones into Poland and Romania as Moscow argues that Nato is already “fighting against Russia”.
As the war in Ukraine intensifies, The Independent looks at the ways Russia is expanding the conflict to involve more countries.
Turkey’s imports of Russian oil drop amid pressure from the US
06:10
,
Shahana Yasmin
Imports of Russian oil to Turkey, one of Moscow’s top buyers, have fallen due to rising competition, sanctions, and growing pressure from the US.
According to Reuters, who cited two traders and London Stock Exchange (LSEG) data, September imports hit their lowest level since April.
“(Turkey) is a sovereign state that decides for itself in which areas to cooperate with us. If certain types of trade in certain goods are deemed advantageous to the Turkish side, then the Turkish side will continue to do so,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
US president Donald Trump, frustrated by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, urged Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to halt Russian oil imports. After talks on Thursday, Trump expressed optimism, saying Ankara may agree to stop purchases in exchange for potential sanctions relief.
However, with close ties between Erdogan and Russian president Vladimir Putin, Turkey’s final stance remains uncertain. Despite not joining Western sanctions, Turkey complies with international laws and restrictions.
Russian surveillance ship near Europe’s underwater cables raises concerns
05:50
,
Shahana Yasmin
Satellite data has revealed the presence of a Russian surveillance and sabotage ship near critical underwater cables in European seas, sparking concerns over potential sabotage.
The Yantar, operated by Russia's Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), has been linked to mapping vital European infrastructure, which could be targeted in future military operations, reported the Financial Times.
Captain David Fields, former UK naval attache to Russia, warned that Russia has invested heavily in mapping these crucial infrastructures for covert attacks.
“Russian military thinking places great emphasis on hitting early, hard, and where it hurts to prevent escalation to a full-scale war. It has invested a lot of time, money, and effort in mapping the critical national infrastructure of their enemies to attack covertly or overtly,” he said.
The ship’s operations intensified after a period of lower activity following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The vessel is capable of disrupting communications and could potentially plant explosives on key cables, and was seen in satellite footage of the Irish Sea between the UK and Ireland in November, as well as over the underwater cables between Norway's mainland and the Svalbard archipelago.
Zelensky says Russia’s recent offensives have failed
05:30
,
Shahana Yasmin
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Friday that Russia’s recent offensives have not achieved their intended objectives.
Zelensky, in his nightly address, said that Ukrainian forces “are neutralising them” near Dobropillia in eastern Donetsk, where Russia had hoped to achieve a major breakthrough.
“For some time they have been forced, year after year, to invent new reasons why the deadlines they announced keep getting pushed back.”
Syrskyi told reporters: “The Russians’ spring and summer campaign has effectively been disrupted,” highlighting failures in capturing key areas like Pokrovsk.
Despite Russia’s limited advances, both sides have suffered heavy casualties, with Western estimates putting total casualties at over one million.
Hungary accuses Zelensky of ‘losing his mind’ over drone allegations
05:10
,
Shahana Yasmin
Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary have flared after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that reconnaissance drones which violated Ukrainian airspace may have flown from Hungary.
Zelensky said in his nightly video address that he had called for “thorough checks” and warned of a response if such incidents continue.
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto mocked Zelensky on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “President Zelensky is losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession. He's now starting to see things that aren't there.”
His statement comes as the two countries are locked in a diplomatic standoff after Hungary imposed an entry ban on Ukrainian military officials, prompting Kyiv to reciprocate with a ban on Hungarian officials.
'Embarrassing!': Trump scolds European countries buying Russian oil
04:50
,
Shahana Yasmin
‘Apocalypse No.’ Why the world is moving away from global catastrophe
04:30
,
Shahana Yasmin
If there has been one message from the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine recently, it has been “more of the same”. The hopes of halting violence that Donald Trump brought to office have evaporated. The word ceasefire is barely heard. Any movement has been towards more rather than less war.
At the UN General Assembly this week, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned that Russia was preparing to lead the world through “the most destructive arms race in human history”.
Ten days ago, after an incursion of presumed Russian drones into Poland, the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, warned that his country was closer to military conflict “than at any time since the Second World War”. Trump recently gave an apparent go-ahead to the prospect of Nato countries shooting down intruding Russian drones, seconded by the EU’s president, Ursula von der Leyen.
US Rep. Michael Turner urges swift vote on sanctions bill to cripple Russia’s war effort
04:20
,
Shahana Yasmin
Rep. Michael Turner, a senior member of the US House Armed Services Committee, is urging US speaker Mike Johnson to swiftly vote on a proposed sanctions bill designed to cut off Russia's economic lifeblood.
The measure would impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries like China and India that continue buying Russian oil and gas.
“Russia’s economy is allowing them to produce the weapons of war,” Turner said at a briefing in Washington, “and those weapons are resulting in the murderous battlefield in Ukraine.”
He echoed US president Donald Trump, saying Ukraine can win back territory “with the right support.”
Turner also warned that Russia’s aggression is a “direct threat to NATO itself”, highlighting that recent drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace are calculated provocations aimed at destabilising Europe.
European countries meet to discuss a 'drone wall' as airspace violations mount
04:04
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine's front line grows bigger as Russia shifts tactics, top commander says
03:05
,
Tom Watling
Russia is helping China to prepare for a potential invasion of Taiwan, defense institute says
02:05
,
Tom Watling
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales pleads guilty to Russian bribery charges
01:01
,
Tom Watling
King and Starmer played key role in Trump U-turn
Saturday 27 September 2025 00:34
,
Tom Watling
The King and Sir Keir Starmer played a key role in Donald Trump’s U-turn over Ukraine, it has been reported.
Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, told The Telegraph: “I’d like to mention that it was a great visit of President Trump to the United Kingdom, and I know the position of His Majesty, the position of prime minister Starmer and the people whom President Trump met… it was very important.”
EU frontline states agree on need for 'drone wall'
Saturday 27 September 2025 00:00
,
Alex Croft
Frontline European Union states reached an understanding on the need for a "drone wall" with advanced detection, tracking and interception capabilities, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Friday.
Speaking in Finland after a videoconference with defence ministers from frontline EU members, Kubilius said there is a need to develop additional drone capabilities and that a detailed technical roadmap will be defined with national experts.
Denmark has no plans to invoke Nato Article 4
Friday 26 September 2025 23:01
,
Alex Croft
Denmark has no plans to invoke Nato's Article 4 after drone incursions near civilian and military sites this week, Denmark's foreign minister said on Friday.
Article 4 of the treaty states that members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
"Article 4 has been activated nine times in NATO's entire history, and twice recently in relation to Poland and Estonia, so we have no reason to do so," Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has linked the drone incident that shut Copenhagen airport late on Monday to suspected Russian drone activities across Europe, but without providing evidence, a claim strongly rejected by Moscow.
‘Apocalypse No.’ Why the world is moving away from global catastrophe
Friday 26 September 2025 22:14
,
Alex Croft
News that Russia would consider extending the nuclear Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the US offers a ray of unexpected light at a time of unrelenting war, writes Mary Dejevsky...
Trump open to lifting restrictions on Ukraine hitting mainland Russia
Friday 26 September 2025 21:36
,
Tom Watling
Donald Trump has reportedly told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that he is open to lifting restrictions on Kyiv’s use of American long-range missiles to hit mainland Russia.
Though the US president did not greenlight Ukraine’s use of American-supplied long-range missiles, he did express his openness during a meeting with Mr Zelensky in New York, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Russia expands list of banned British nationals
Friday 26 September 2025 21:29
,
Alex Croft
Russia has expanded its list of banned British nationals, accusing them of “cynical anti-Russian adventures”.
An MP, Foreign Office employees, think-tank experts, and third-country nationals who work for British institutions are all included.
The list of seven individuals included an MP, Foreign Office employees, think-tank experts and third-country nationals working for British institutions.
"The British have recently resorted to their tried and tested tools of mind manipulation: another round of anti-Russian spy mania, fantasies about an alleged military threat hanging over Europe, and pompously announcing economic restrictions, which, however, mainly affect the British economy itself," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Cynical anti-Russian adventures continue to be regularly financed by London to the detriment of the deteriorating socio-economic and, as a result, domestic political situation in the country."
Kremlin dodges questions on reported warning to shoot down Russian jets violating European airspace
Friday 26 September 2025 20:45
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin refused to respond to a report that European diplomats had privately warned Russia that Nato would be ready to shoot down any Russian aircraft violating European airspace.
British, French and German envoys had delivered the warning at a meeting in Moscow, Bloomberg reported, citing officials familiar with the exchange.
Asked on Friday how Russia would respond if Nato shot down a Russian plane, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "You know, I don't even want to talk about this; it's a very irresponsible statement."
He added: "It's very irresponsible because accusations against Russia that its military aircraft violated someone's airspace and intruded into someone's skies are groundless. No convincing evidence has been presented."
Kyiv has 'got much better' at attacking Russian oil facilities
Friday 26 September 2025 20:00
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine has “got much better” at attacking Moscow’s oil refineries, as it looks to pile pressure on an already-burdened Russian economy.
“Let's remember they're also inflicting damage on the Russian oil industry through these repeated attacks on refineries,” said John Lough, head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre.
“And they've also got much better at doing this. If they can sustain that and stop the Russians repairing the damaged facilities, then this is all going to have an effect,” he added.
US president Donald Trump is looking to pressure countries in Europe and Asia to stop buying Russia oil, as he looks to cripple Russia’s economy in the hopes of forcing the war to an end.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil refinery in Krasnodar region
Friday 26 September 2025 19:31
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine struck Russia's Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar region in a drone attack overnight, Kyiv's general staff said on Friday.
The attack caused a fire at the refinery, it added on the Telegram messenger.
Kyiv has been ramping up its attacks on Russian oil facilities, as it looks to add further pressure to one of the main drivers of Moscow’s economy.
EU commits €140 billion loan to Ukraine
Friday 26 September 2025 19:00
,
Alex Croft
The EU has committed a new €140 billion (£122bn) loan to Ukraine, funded by frozen Russian assets, Politico is reporting.
Sent to national capitals ahead of a meeting of EU ambassadors, the proposal would see Ukraine only repaying the loan after Russia ends the war and pays post-war reparations.
The EU would compensate Belgian financial firm Euroclear, which holds the frozen Russian assets, the outlet reported.
The loan, which could be used by Kyiv for both defence and other domestic budgetary needs, will be dispensed in tranches.
Explained: what are NATO obligations as drones appear in Europe?
Friday 26 September 2025 18:28
,
Alex Croft
Denmark said on Thursday it was weighing whether to invoke Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty after drone incursions briefly shut two of its airports and affected military installations in its western Jutland region overnight.
- Article 4 states that NATO members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
- Under Article 4, discussions at the North Atlantic Council could lead to some form of joint decision or action.
- If Russia were determined to have attacked the territory of a member state, the focus would then shift to Article 5.
- Article 5 stipulates that "the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all".
Trump signals deal with Turkey on Russian oil and F-35 jets
Friday 26 September 2025 18:01
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump said he believes Turkey will agree to stop purchasing Russian oil and hinted he may lift US sanctions to allow Ankara to buy American F-35 fighter jets.
After two hours of talks at the White House with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump described the meeting as “very conclusive” but gave no details, promising an announcement later.
“I believe he will stop it, yeah,” Trump said when asked if Turkey would end its Russian oil imports. “Because he can buy it from a lot of other people.”
Erdogan is seeking closer ties with Washington and the removal of sanctions that block access to advanced US aircraft.
Trump appeared open, saying he could lift sanctions “very soon” if discussions went well.
Moscow claims village in Ukraine's Sumy region
Friday 26 September 2025 18:01
,
Alex Croft
The Russian defence ministry said on Friday its forces had captured the village of Yunakivka in Ukraine's northern Sumy region.
The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield report.
India rejects Nato chief comments about Modi-Putin talks
Friday 26 September 2025 17:30
,
Alex Croft
India rejected remarks by Nato's chief that suggested Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was contacting Russian President Vladimir Putin over the impact of punitive US tariffs on its purchases of Russian oil as "incorrect and baseless".
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, in an interview with CNN, had spoken about US president Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on Indian imports to 50% due to India's purchases of Russian oil.
"This immediately impacts Russia because Delhi is now on the phone with Putin in Moscow, and Narendra Modi asks him, 'Hey, I support you, but could you explain to me the strategy because I have now been hit by 50% tariffs by the United States'," Mr Rutte said in the interview published on Thursday.
"The statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular briefing.
"At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place."
'Starting to go crazy': Hungary FM lashes out at Zelensky after drone claims
Friday 26 September 2025 16:59
,
Alex Croft
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said Volodymyr Zelensky was "starting to go crazy" after the Ukrainian President said there were violations of the country's airspace by reconnaissance drones which were likely Hungarian.
"President Volodymyr Zelensky is starting to go crazy from being anti-Hungarian," Mr Szijjarto wrote on Facebook.
"Now he is seeing monsters."
Mr Zelensky had earlier said: “Preliminary assessments suggest they may have been conducting reconnaissance on the industrial potential of Ukraine’s border areas.
Kremlin says talk of shooting down Russian planes a 'reckless and irresponsible'
Friday 26 September 2025 16:25
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin said on Friday that talk of shooting down Russian military planes over Europe was reckless, aggressive and marked a serious escalation of tension near Russia's border.
"Statements about shooting down Russian planes are, well, at the very least, reckless, irresponsible. And, of course, dangerous in their consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.
Bloomberg reported earlier that European diplomats had warned Moscow that Nato was ready to respond with full force against violations of its airspace, including by shooting down Russian planes.
UK former politician pleads guilty to bribery related to pro-Russian statements
Friday 26 September 2025 15:57
,
Alex Croft
A British former member of the European parliament and ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to pro-Russian statements on Friday.
Nathan Gill appeared at London's Old Bailey court and pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery relating to payments from December 2018 and July 2019, agreeing to accept money "constituting the improper performance... as the holder of (an) elected office".
The 52-year-old denied a further charge of conspiracy to commit bribery with former Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn.
Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said it was a serious matter, telling Gill he had admitted being paid to ask questions and make statements at the European parliament "in support of pro-Russian parties" in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
EU proposes restrictions on inter-EU travel for Russian diplomats
Friday 26 September 2025 15:29
,
Alex Croft
The EU has proposed a that any Russian diplomats in the bloc have to give notice for any travel within the EU, as part of a 19th package of sanctions against Moscow, EU sources said.
Proposed by the EU’s diplomatic arm, the EEAS, the notification system would allow member states to bar entry if they should wish.
Baltic states and the Czech Republic in particular have been pushing to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats since last year.
Member states are currently debating a 19th package proposal, which includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports by January 1, 2027
Denmark has no plans to invoke Nato Article 4
Friday 26 September 2025 15:11
,
Alex Croft
Denmark has no plans to invoke Nato's Article 4 after drone incursions near civilian and military sites this week, Denmark's foreign minister said on Friday.
Article 4 of the treaty states that members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
"Article 4 has been activated nine times in NATO's entire history, and twice recently in relation to Poland and Estonia, so we have no reason to do so," Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has linked the drone incident that shut Copenhagen airport late on Monday to suspected Russian drone activities across Europe, but without providing evidence, a claim strongly rejected by Moscow.
EU frontline states agree on need for 'drone wall'
Friday 26 September 2025 14:48
,
Alex Croft
Frontline European Union states reached an understanding on the need for a "drone wall" with advanced detection, tracking and interception capabilities, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Friday.
Speaking in Finland after a videoconference with defence ministers from frontline EU members, Kubilius said there is a need to develop additional drone capabilities and that a detailed technical roadmap will be defined with national experts.
Zelensky says Ukraine airspace violated by reconnaissance drones, likely Hungarian
Friday 26 September 2025 14:31
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine’s airspace was violated by reconnaissance drones which were likely Hungarian.
The Ukrainian president offered a military update on X, noting the downing of a Russian Su-34 fighter jet in the Zaporizhzhia region and a counteroffensive in the Donetsk region.
“Ukrainian forces recorded violations of our airspace by reconnaissance drones, which are likely Hungarian,” Mr Zelensky said.
“Preliminary assessments suggest they may have been conducting reconnaissance on the industrial potential of Ukraine’s border areas.
“I instructed that all available information be verified and that urgent reports be made on each recorded incident.
I held a military briefing.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2025
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office for defense matters Pavlo Palisa were present. Reports were delivered on the front… pic.twitter.com/IgYLR16aj4
European leaders say Putin has no intention for peace
Friday 26 September 2025 14:17
,
Alex Croft
Both Poland and Germany have both spoken out today on Russia’s intentions against Ukraine and the rest of the world.
"European allies have never been so united... we n
