Blaise Metreweli, the new head of MI6, is set to launch a scathing attack on Russia’s « aggressive, expansionist » behaviour, warning Vladimir Putin that Britain’s spies will not abandon Ukraine, reports The Telegraph.
In her inaugural speech from the MI6 headquarters, the 48-year-old, who took over as the head of the Secret Intelligence Service on October 1, will declare Britain’s unwavering commitment to Kyiv, stating, « Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine‘s behalf will be sustained. »
MI6 chief: Russia’s ‘export of chaos’ a feature, not a bug
Describing the threat posed by Moscow to Britain, Ms Metreweli will emphasise, « The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug, in the Russian approach to international engagement and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus. »
Her intervention comes as Donald Trump‘s administration continues to push for a peace deal to be in place by Christmas, 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 may be « rewarded » with territorial gains under US peace proposals, with Sir Keir stressing the need for « hard-edged security guarantees » for Ukraine.
MI6 to embrace technology in the face of new ‘age of uncertainty’
Ms Metreweli, who previously served as the head of MI6’s technical branch, will also emphasise the agency’s need to master technology, saying, « Not just in our labs, but in the field, in our tradecraft, and even more importantly, in the mindset of every officer. »
She will add, « We must be as comfortable with lines of code as we are with human sources, as fluent in Python [the programming language] as we are in multiple languages. »
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, with the world facing a new « age of uncertainty. »
Russia has previously been accused of engaging in a hybrid war against Europe, using cyber attacks and drones to create chaos and confusion.
Devastating cyber attacks on Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencer earlier this year cost an estimated £1.9bn and £300m, respectively.
Chief of Defence Staff warns of increasing price of peace, calls for ‘all-in’ mentality
According to the report, Sir Richard Knighton, Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff, will also warn that the price of peace is « increasing » and that more money is needed to properly prepare the nation for war. In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute, Sir Richard will call for « our whole nation stepping up » to build « national resilience, » adding, « It’s about our defence and resilience being a higher national priority for all of us. An ‘all-in’ mentality. »
As world leaders gather in Berlin to discuss a potential peace deal in Ukraine, the new head of MI6 and Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff issue stark warnings about the ongoing threat posed by Russia and the need for increased vigilance and investment in defence and technology to protect the nation’s interests.
NATO Secretary General warns against complacency over Putin threat
Last week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a stark warning against complacency over the threat from Putin, telling the alliance, « We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great grandparents endured. » On Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of a shifting relationship with the US, saying, « the decades of Pax Americana are largely over. »
As world leaders gather in Berlin to discuss a potential peace deal in Ukraine, the new head of MI6 and Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff issue stark warnings about the ongoing threat posed by Russia and the need for increased vigilance and investment in defence and technology to protect the nation’s interests.
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