US President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, marking a significant reversal from his earlier threats to reduce the American military footprint in Europe. The announcement came via Trump's Truth Social platform, where he cited the election of Polish President Karol Nawrocki as a key factor.
Trump's U-Turn on European Troop Levels
Earlier this month, Trump had signalled a reduction of at least 5,000 troops in Germany, following criticism from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who claimed the US was being "humiliated" by Iranian leadership and lacked a coherent war strategy. Trump then hinted at deeper cuts, telling reporters the US would be "cutting a lot further than 5,000."
The new deployment to Poland contradicts those statements, raising confusion among European allies who have been caught off guard by the administration's shifting stance. The Pentagon had previously confirmed that approximately 4,000 service members would no longer deploy to Poland as part of a broader drawdown.
Nato Scrambles Jets Over Baltic Drones
Meanwhile, Lithuania and Latvia scrambled Nato fighter jets after detecting drones in their airspace, the latest in a series of security incidents in the Baltics. Earlier this week, a Nato jet shot down a drone over Estonia, and another drone triggered air raid alerts in Lithuania's capital, forcing the president and prime minister to seek shelter.
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that strikes on Russian oil facilities are proceeding according to plan. Ukrainian drones recently hit the Syzran oil refinery, over 800 kilometres inside Russia. "Our long-range plan for May is being carried out largely in full. The key targets are Russian oil refineries, storage facilities and other infrastructure tied to oil revenues," Zelensky said in his evening address.
In Russia's Bryansk region, a Ukrainian drone strike on a railway station killed three Russian Railways employees. The region, which borders Ukraine, is frequently targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
Belarus Rules Out Involvement in Ukraine War
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed suggestions that Belarus would be drawn into the Ukraine war, but affirmed that Belarus and Russia would jointly defend themselves in case of aggression. Speaking during joint nuclear exercises with Russia, Lukashenko said he was open to meeting Zelensky. "If aggression is committed on our territory, we will together defend our Fatherland," he stated.
Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and Zelensky has repeatedly warned of possible cross-border incursions.
Russia Downs Drones Near Moscow
Russian defence systems intercepted drones over Moscow and the Yaroslavl region early Friday. At least four drones heading for Moscow were downed, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The areas have been targeted previously, with energy infrastructure considered a key objective.
Kremlin Denies Chinese Training of Russian Soldiers
The Kremlin has denied reports that China's army secretly trained Russian soldiers in late 2025, some of whom later fought in Ukraine. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov labelled the claims as fake information, urging caution over Western media reports.
Reuters had reported, citing European intelligence, that China trained about 200 Russian military personnel covertly.
Russia Launches Nuclear Drills in Belarus
Russia has commenced nuclear war games in Belarus, moving Iskander-M missiles close to the European Union border. Ukraine has rushed troops to its northern border, and Nato has condemned the moves. Russian President Vladimir Putin observed the drills, stating that nuclear weapons would be a "last resort" measure to guarantee sovereignty.
The exercises involve strategic missile forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, and long-range aviation, according to Russian state media.
