The Russian government has warned that it is ready to “neutralize possible threats” from NATO at the border, in a covert threat to the security alliance. The defense alliance is stepping up its forces in Poland, near the border with Ukraine, as the war in Ukraine rages. In response, Oleg Tyapkin, head of the State Department responsible for Russia’s relations with Europe, said the Kremlin’s response to the growing number of NATO troops in Poland would be “proportionate and appropriate.” He told the Russian news agency Interfax: “A response, as always, will be proportionate and appropriate, in order to eliminate possible threats to the security of the Russian Federation.” In February, US President Joe Biden ordered the deployment of an additional 3,000 US troops to Poland to bolster NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe.

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Just a month later, the United Kingdom announced that it was developing a ground-based air defense system in Poland with 100 troops. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced the development of the Sky Saber missile system while in Warsaw to meet with his Polish counterpart. The 100 troops will be deployed on a short-term basis and brought under control, Downing Street said. It comes as the prime minister has ordered ministers to do “everything in their power” to secure the release of two Britons, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, after being sentenced to death for fighting Russian forces in what described by the UK government as a “false” sentence. Foreign Minister Liz Tras discussed efforts to secure their release with her Ukrainian counterpart on Friday, following a Russian court ruling on the two men, both of whom served in the Ukrainian army. Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, suggested on Friday that talks were under way on a possible prisoner exchange with Moscow, as it turned out that Defense Minister Ben Wallace had paid a surprise visit to Kyiv with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr. British officials are also in talks with their Ukrainian counterparts over the detention of nationals Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, both of whom were sentenced to death during a demonstration trial.