17:10

What affects one ally affects us all: reinforcements on the eastern flank

NATO is introducing reinforcements on the eastern flank. Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, and others are expected to participate.

What affects one ally affects us all, says NATO Supreme Commander Alexus Grynkewich. The allies stand in solidarity with Poland. NATO will continue to defend every square meter of our territory, Grynkewich adds.

Rutte says Wednesday's actions will continue to be reviewed.

17:05

Whether intentional or not, it is dangerous and unacceptable.

Secretary General Rutte opens the press conference. In the early hours of Wednesday, Russian drones entered Polish airspace.

This is not an isolated attack, says the Secretary General. Incidents are increasing on the eastern flank. Whether intentional or not, it is dangerous and unacceptable. NATO's mission is to deter aggression, says the Secretary General.

17:02

The press conference begins

The NATO press conference begins on time.

14:42

Press conference scheduled

According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, NATO will present an action plan for the defense alliance's eastern flank on Friday. A press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Commander of NATO Forces Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, is scheduled for late afternoon in Brussels.

14:40

This happened

During the night leading into Wednesday, at least 19 drones penetrated the airspace of EU and NATO member Poland, some hundreds of kilometers away. Several of the drones were shot down. Poland and NATO allies such as Germany condemned the incident as a deliberate provocation against the entire Western military alliance.

Moscow denied a targeted attack. Russia said it intercepted more than 220 Ukrainian drones overnight into Friday, including near Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg.

The German government summoned the Russian ambassador regarding the drone incident. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's use of Russian drones in NATO airspace is dangerous and unacceptable, the Foreign Office stated on Friday on X. The Russian ambassador in Paris was also summoned, and the EU summoned the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus.