UK defence minister: we'll deploy Sky Sabre missile defence system in Poland

"We are going to deploy the Sky Sabre medium-range, anti-air missile system to Poland with about 100 personnel to make sure that we stand alongside Poland, protecting her airspace from any further aggression by Russia," Ben Wallace told a news conference he held together with Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak.

"We're all Europeans, and it's our duty to help our fellow Ukrainians defend themselves against this aggression and also deal with the consequences of the violence that's been rained down on them," he stressed.

"And I hope this sends a message to the Kremlin that don't doubt us for one second - that we will stand together, stand up for our values and defend our friends, such as Poland, from any further aggression," British defence minister added.

"Who would have thought after all these years, a tyrant would appear again on the borders of Europe and persecute such a wrong and evil war on a country who made only one decision, which was to express its free will?" Wallace said.

Minister Mariusz Błaszczak thanked Wallace for Britain's involvement as a NATO ally. "Our relations are very close and thanks to our contacts Poland and NATO are safe," he said.

"Once again I would like to thank you for staying in touch with me all the time, for the very close cooperation that we have, thank you for our bilateral cooperation and thank you for the British troops that are staying in Poland," Błaszczak added.

Britain has previously said the missile defence system has the capability to hit a tennis ball-sized object travelling at the speed of sound.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the missile system was being deployed after a request from the Polish government and will remain under the control of British forces at all times.

"It is, as ever, a purely defensive capability which we are providing on a bilateral basis to Poland," the spokesman said.