Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has vowed that Britain will continue supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
In an interview with the Mirror, Cooper said ‘Ukraine’s security is our security’, adding that she would continue to ‘support’ Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
She also warned that if Vladimir Putin‘s continued aggression continues to go ‘unchecked’, the safety and stability of Europe and the UK is at risk.
The foreign secretary said putting greater economic pressure on Russia was necessary to get Putin to agree to peace talks.
She also confirmed a further £142 million in aid to help Ukrainian families on the frontline.
Cooper’s comments come as Zelensky on Saturday warned that Russia was deliberately expanding its drone operations and that the West needed to respond with tougher sanctions and closer defence cooperation.
Romania’s defence ministry said Saturday that the country’s airspace had been breached by a drone during a Russian attack on infrastructure in neighbouring Ukraine.
The country scrambled two F-16 fighter jets late on Saturday to monitor the situation following the strikes, said a defence ministry statement.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper attends a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (not pictured) in Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 September 2025
Cooper said ‘Ukraine’s security is our security’, adding that she would continue to ‘support’ Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper bow as they visit the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, outside St. Michael’s Cathedral, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 12, 2025
The jets ‘detected a drone in national airspace’ and tracked it until ‘it disappeared from the radar’ near the Romanian village of Chilia Veche, it added.
Also Saturday, Poland said it and its NATO allies had deployed helicopters and aircraft as Russian drones struck Ukraine not far from its border.
Because of the drone threat, ‘Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached their highest level of alert,’ the country’s military command posted in a statement on X.
Later Saturday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the high alert had been lifted, while cautioning: ‘We remain vigilant.’
Poland and its fellow NATO countries have been on their guard since Warsaw said nearly 20 Russian drones entered its airspace overnight Tuesday to Wednesday.
While Russia denies targeting Poland, several European countries including France, Germany and Sweden have stepped up their support for defending Polish airspace in response.
‘Today, Romania scrambled combat aircraft because of a Russian drone in its airspace,’ said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
‘Also today, Poland responded militarily to the threat of Russian attack drones,’ which had also been active in different regions of Ukraine all day, he added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper speak as they visit the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, outside St. Michael’s Cathedral, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper visit an exhibition showcasing Ukrainian unmanned vehicles
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (L) and Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko visit the headquarters of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, which was damaged during a recent missile and drone attack
The Russian military knows exactly where their drones are headed and how long they can operate in the air,’ said Zelensky.
The latest drone incursions were ‘an obvious expansion of the war by Russia’, he added.
What was required in response were fresh sanctions against Russia and a collective defence system, Zelensky argued.
‘Do not wait for dozens of ‘shaheds’ and ballistic missiles before finally making decisions,’ he warned, referring to the Iranian-designed Shahed drones Russia is using.
