Foreign Secretary urges European allies to unite behind Zelenskyy and strengthen defences against Russian hybrid threats
The United Kingdom will urge its European partners to support an energy ceasefire in Ukraine and step up cooperation against Russian hybrid attacks as Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband attends the Warsaw Security Forum on Tuesday, 13 October.
The meeting comes as Ukraine prepares for another winter amid continued Russian strikes on electricity and heating infrastructure, raising concerns about power shortages and the impact on civilians during freezing temperatures.
Miliband is expected to call on European governments to back Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for an energy ceasefire, arguing that attacks on critical infrastructure must not be allowed to leave millions of people without electricity or heating.
According to figures cited by the UK government, Russia carried out 200 attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over the previous week. During the same period, Russian forces reportedly launched 1,450 bombs and 1,600 drones against Ukraine, highlighting the scale of the ongoing military campaign.
Speaking ahead of the forum, Miliband said his recent visit to Kyiv had brought home the consequences of the war for Ukrainian children, many of whom have experienced repeated winters marked by air strikes, power cuts and extreme cold.
He said European countries should work together to prevent Russia from using energy infrastructure as a means of putting pressure on Ukraine and its population.
“Those who seek to weaken our democracies thrive on division, so our answer must be unity,” Miliband said, calling for European support for an energy ceasefire.
Britain warns of expanding Russian hybrid threats
Alongside the situation in Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary will address the growing threat posed by cyberattacks, sabotage and other forms of hybrid activity across Europe.
Miliband is due to join a panel discussion with the foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and Norway, focusing on how European countries can improve their collective response to threats against critical infrastructure and democratic institutions.
The British government argues that Russian activities increasingly extend beyond the battlefield in Ukraine, targeting infrastructure, digital systems and the information environment in an effort to undermine public confidence and weaken support for Kyiv.
The UK will urge its European partners to make greater use of their combined economic, industrial and political resources to protect national security and strengthen the continent’s resilience.
London is also highlighting new domestic measures intended to counter such threats, including the establishment of a National Centre for Information Defence and closer cooperation with Germany on tackling hybrid attacks.
The government says these initiatives form part of a wider effort to protect Britain and its European partners against cyber operations, sabotage and attempts to disrupt essential services.
Britain’s security commitments are also being reinforced through increased defence investment. The UK plans to spend more than £300 billion on defence over the next four years, describing the programme as its largest sustained increase in military spending since the Cold War.
Poland and Britain strengthen security cooperation
Poland’s position on NATO’s eastern flank will be another important focus of the discussions, as the country faces repeated security concerns linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The British government points to reported drone incursions near NATO’s eastern borders and alleged attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure as evidence of the need for closer coordination among European allies.
It has also highlighted incidents in Poland, including an attack on the country’s energy grid in December 2025 that reportedly threatened to leave around 500,000 people without electricity during winter. A railway sabotage incident the previous month also raised concerns about the potential for serious casualties.
During his visit to Warsaw, Miliband met Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski to discuss the security challenges facing both countries and reaffirm the UK’s support for Poland.
Their talks included the implementation of the bilateral security and defence partnership established under the Northolt Treaty, signed earlier in 2026. The agreement is intended to deepen cooperation in defence, security and economic resilience, including joint efforts to address cyber threats and sabotage.
London maintains that closer cooperation with Poland and other European partners is essential to protecting critical infrastructure and reducing the risks posed by hostile activity across the continent.
Warsaw visit includes family-history connection
The Foreign Secretary’s programme in Warsaw also included a visit to the Jewish Historical Institute, where he met its director, Dr Michał Trębacz, and archivist Aleksandra Szarapanowska.
During the visit, the institute’s specialists presented archival materials connected to Miliband’s family history, providing a personal dimension to his time in the Polish capital.
The Warsaw Security Forum takes place against the backdrop of continuing Russian attacks on Ukraine and growing European concerns about the security of critical infrastructure. Britain’s message to its allies is that support for Ukraine, protection against hybrid threats and stronger European defence cooperation should be pursued as interconnected priorities. Photo by Peter Heeling; Skitterphoto, Wikimedia commons.
