UK Defence Chief: Be Ready for War With Russia, Putin Testing NATO

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is "testing NATO's resolve", The Guardian reports, as cited by European Pravda. Streeting spoke in Warsaw alongside Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

He stressed the need to be ready for a scenario in which Britain and the NATO alliance find themselves at war with Russia.

"We recall what he said before the invasion"

"Not because we want war, we have no quarrel with the Russian people and do not seek war with Russia, and NATO is a defensive alliance. But when Putin assures us he has no intention of provoking war with NATO, we recall what he said about Ukraine only days before the invasion," Streeting said.

He emphasised that NATO is ready to "defend every inch" of its territory and to support Ukraine. "The better prepared we are to confront Russia and defend every inch of NATO territory, the less likely we are to end up in such a scenario," he added.

Preparing the British public

Earlier, the UK launched a "Be Ready" campaign meant to prepare the country for the consequences of the climate crisis, technological dependence and threats from hostile states. New government guidance recommends that every Briton keep up to nine litres of bottled water and three days' worth of food.

Before that, Streeting said his country must prepare for the threat of "state terrorism" from hostile states aimed at civilian infrastructure. Related: Merz: Russia seeks to destabilize Germany every day. More in Politics.