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UK 'battle group' to go to Poland UK 'battle group' to take part in exercises in Poland
(about 1 hour later)
The UK is to send a "full battle group" of 1,350 military personnel to Poland for a major exercise, it has been announced. The UK is to send a "full battle group" of 1,350 military personnel for exercises in Poland, amid rising tension with Russia over Ukraine.
They will take part in Exercise Black Eagle - a series of Nato manoeuvres to support allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States - in October, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced on a trip to Warsaw. They will take part in Nato manoeuvres in October to support allies in Eastern Europe, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said during a trip to Warsaw.
The commitment is Britain's largest to the region since 2008. It is the UK's largest such commitment to the region since 2008.
It comes amid tensions over Ukraine. Mr Fallon said Britain was playing a "central role" in responding to Russian actions in Ukraine.
The UK had already sent RAF Typhoon jets to support Nato in the area following Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Ministry of Defence said. Some 350 armoured and other vehicles will be involved in the October exercises, known as Black Eagle.
British personnel have also taken part in small-scale Army exercises in the region. The UK has already sent RAF Typhoon jets to support Nato in the region following Russia's annexation of Crimea and British personnel have taken part in small-scale Army exercises.
Mr Fallon said: "It is right that Nato members and partners demonstrate our commitment to the collective security of our allies in Eastern Europe, so I am pleased to confirm our participation in these exercises. The Black Eagle exercises will take place in addition to an already announced Nato exercise in Poland, Sabre Junction, in which UK troops will take part in August.
"In particular, the commitment of a battle group to Exercise Black Eagle shows our sustained and substantial support to Nato's eastern border." 'Sustained support'
The move comes ahead of the Nato Summit in Wales in September, when international leaders will discuss how to respond to future threat. Mr Fallon said the October exercises would "demonstrate our commitment to the collective security of our allies in Eastern Europe... [and show] our sustained and substantial support to Nato's eastern border.
Mr Fallon added: "We have a strong opportunity at the Nato summit to discuss how we will continue our response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and its destabilisation of eastern Ukraine. The UK is playing a central role and we are not ruling out further enhancements." "We have a strong opportunity at the Nato summit [in September] to discuss how we will continue our response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and its destabilisation of eastern Ukraine.
"The UK is playing a central role and we are not ruling out further enhancements."
Britain has previously warned the west may have to "fundamentally change" its approach to Russia after the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane over eastern Ukraine earlier this month.
The "weight of evidence" points to the jet being shot down by a missile fired by pro-Russian separatists, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Heavy fighting in the region has continued since Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea in March.
Sanctions
Officials in Brussels are working on further EU sanctions against Russia, targeting access to European capital markets and trade in the defence sector and sensitive technologies.
Later on Monday, US President Barack Obama will hold a conference call with Mr Cameron and other European leaders, including Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
EU ambassadors will meet to discuss further steps on Tuesday.
The announcement of British involvement in the exercises in Poland comes ahead of the Nato summit in Wales in September, when international leaders will discuss how to respond to future threats.