NATO member countries have alleged that Russia has violated their airspace, specifically in Estonia, Poland, and Romania, a claim that Moscow has rejected as unfounded. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), warned that such actions could lead to direct conflict between NATO and Russia, emphasizing the alliance’s readiness to defend its territory. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that unauthorized Russian aircraft would be shot down if they entered Polish airspace.

Recent incidents have heightened tensions, with Estonia reporting a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet entering its airspace for 12 minutes, suggested by Western officials to be a test of NATO’s resolve. Romania detected a Russian drone, leading to the scramble of its own fighter jets. This escalation comes after Poland shot down several drones during a Russian offensive against Ukraine, marking NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for a robust response to Russian actions, supporting the integration of Ukraine’s air defenses with those of Western nations. The situation prompted a meeting of NATO’s North Atlantic Council, with the US’s new envoy, Michael Waltz, stressing the commitment to defend NATO territory. Meanwhile, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, dismissed the accusations as without evidence.



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