Additional Coverage:
- Russia condemned for jet incursions over Estonia at a heated UN Security Council emergency meeting (cnn.com)
Tensions Flare at UN Security Council Over Russian Jets in Estonian Airspace
Estonia and its allies condemned Russia at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Monday, following an incursion into Estonian airspace by three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets last Friday. The incident, which occurred over the Gulf of Finland, prompted strong reactions from Estonian officials and their international partners.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called on the international community to demand an end to such violations of the UN Charter, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation. He also reiterated Estonia’s unwavering support for Ukraine. Former Estonian Prime Minister and current EU top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, labeled the incident a “deliberate provocation,” accusing Russia of undermining European security.
Representatives from the UK and US issued stern warnings to Russia, emphasizing NATO’s readiness to defend its members. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper underscored the risk of direct armed conflict between NATO and Russia, while newly appointed US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz affirmed the commitment of the US and its allies to defend “every inch of NATO territory.” Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski delivered a scathing rebuke of Russia, accusing the nation of disregarding international law and harboring imperial ambitions.
Russia’s Defense Ministry and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the airspace violation, claiming the flights adhered to international regulations. This denial was reiterated by Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy at the Security Council meeting, where he accused Europe of spreading falsehoods. However, Minister Tsahkna presented radar data and photographs of the armed Russian jets as evidence of the incursion, noting they remained in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes.
Following the incident, Estonia has initiated NATO Article 4 consultations, allowing members to raise security concerns with the alliance. This follows a similar request from Poland last week after Russian drones and fighter jets entered its airspace. Additionally, Swedish and German forces reported scrambling jets on Sunday to monitor a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying without a flight plan or radio contact over the South Baltic Sea.