UK Spy chief uses her first speech to attack Putin | UK | News
MI6’s new chief, Blaise Metreweli, has launched a scathing attack on Russia’s “aggressive, expansionist” behavior, warning Vladimir Putin that Britain’s spies will not leave Ukraine, The Telegraph reports.
The 48-year-old leader, who took over the presidency of the Secret Intelligence Service on October 1, will explain Britain’s unwavering commitment to Kiev in his opening speech at MI6 headquarters and say, “Putin should not have any doubts, our support is permanent. The pressure we apply on behalf of Ukraine will continue.”
MI6 chief: Russia’s ‘export of chaos’ is a feature, not a bug
Describing the threat posed by Moscow to Britain, Ms Metreweli will emphasize: “The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug, in Russia’s approach to international engagement, and we must be prepared for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculations.”
His intervention comes as follows: Donald TrumpHis administration continues to press for a peace agreement to be in place by Christmas and is pressuring Ukraine to make significant territorial concessions.
Sir Keir Starmer will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Trump’s envoys, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Monday to discuss the revised peace plan.
European leaders have expressed reservations that Moscow could be “rewarded” with territorial gains under US peace proposals, while Sir Keir stressed the need for “hard-edged security guarantees” for Ukraine.
MI6 to embrace technology in face of new ‘age of uncertainty’
Ms Metreweli, who previously served as head of MI6’s technical branch, also stressed the agency’s need to master technology, saying: “Not just in our laboratories, but in the field, in our commercial skills and, importantly, in the mindset of every officer.”
He adds: “We must be as comfortable with lines of code and fluent in Python as we are with human resources [the programming language] Because we are multilingual.”
Russia accused of engaging in hybrid war against Europe
The focus on technology comes with a warning that the rules of conflict are being rewritten by Russia and other hostile actors as the world faces a new “age of uncertainty.”
Russia has previously been accused of waging a hybrid war against Europe, using cyberattacks and drones to create chaos and confusion.
The cost of devastating cyber attacks on Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencer earlier this year was estimated at £1.9 billion and £300 million respectively.
Chief of General Staff warns of rising cost of peace and calls for ‘all-in’ mentality
According to the report, British Chief of Staff Sir Richard Knighton will also warn that the price of peace is “increasing” and that more money is needed to properly prepare the country for war. In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute, Sir Richard will call for “our whole nation to step up” to build “national resilience”, adding: “This is about our defense and resilience being a higher national priority for all of us. An ‘all together’ mentality.”
As world leaders gather in Berlin to discuss a possible peace deal in Ukraine, the new head of MI6 and Britain’s Chief of the Defense Staff are issuing dire warnings about the ongoing threat posed by Russia and the need for greater attention and investment in defense and technology to protect the nation’s interests.
NATO Secretary General warns against complacency in the face of Putin threat
Last week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a stark warning against complacency in the face of Putin’s threat, telling the alliance: “We must be prepared for the scale of war that our grandparents endured.” On Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of changing relations with the United States, saying “decades of Pax Americana are largely over.”
As world leaders gather in Berlin to discuss a possible peace deal in Ukraine, the new head of MI6 and Britain’s Chief of the Defense Staff are issuing dire warnings about the ongoing threat posed by Russia and the need for greater attention and investment in defense and technology to protect the nation’s interests.
