NATO Warns Russia After Jets Breach Estonian Airspace
UNITED NATIONS – Tensions flared at the U.N. Security Council as Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper directly warned Moscow that NATO will defend its territory against further provocations.
“Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia,” Cooper told Russia’s envoy. “Our alliance is defensive, but we are fully prepared to defend NATO’s skies and NATO’s territory. If planes enter NATO airspace without permission, they will be confronted.”
Her remarks followed Estonia’s report that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets intruded into its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday before being forced to leave. Western officials said the incident appeared designed to test NATO’s response. It came just a week after over 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace, some of which were shot down by NATO forces.
The Security Council met on Monday to address the escalating situation, with NATO consultations scheduled for Tuesday.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas backed Cooper’s warning, stressing that repeated violations could not be dismissed as accidental. Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha urged a tougher line, offering again to integrate Kyiv’s air defense systems with neighboring NATO countries.
“A strong response means a threat should not be escorted for 12 minutes, or even one minute—it should be neutralized,” Sybiha said.
The U.S. also weighed in, with newly appointed U.N. envoy Michael Waltz vowing Washington’s commitment. “The United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory,” he said in his debut statement.
Moscow dismissed the accusations. Russia’s deputy ambassador to the U.N., Dmitry Polyanskiy, said no evidence had been presented and described the meeting as “a theater of the absurd.”
“When Europe is ready for serious talks about security and prosperity, we’ll be there,” he said.
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