In the latest violation of Nato’s eastern flank, the MiG-31 aircraft strayed into Estonian airspace on Friday and remained there for 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian jets.
The length of time spent over Estonia, and the fact that the aircraft were manned rather than drones, as with the previous incidents over Poland and Romania, mark a worrying escalation in Russian activity over Nato airspace. It is the third incursion by Russia into Nato airspace in a month.
At a press conference with Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers to mark the end of the US-UK state visit on Thursday, the US president said Putin had “let me down” over trying to end the war in Ukraine, after their summit in Alaska last month.
In a separate incident on Friday, it was reported that two Russian fighter jets performed a low pass over a Polish oil and gas company in the Baltic.
Tallinn said on Friday the three MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes.
“Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.”
The fact that the incursion featured crewed aircraft, who were believed to have had their transponders off, is seen as even more provocative than the recent drones that violated Polish and Romanian airspace.
Russian jets have been known to stray into Estonian airspace as a shortcut back into Russia but enter and leave quickly.
“This is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern – one that suggests Moscow is actively testing the resolve of Nato and probing the limits of the Alliance’s willingness to defend its eastern flank.
“Through a series of calculated provocations, President Putin is signaling that he does not dismiss the possibility of escalating the conflict into Nato’s eastern flank. By doing so, Russia seeks to exert pressure on the West to concede to its demands regarding Ukraine.”
She said: “We must continue to increase pressure on Putin, including driving forward the important new economic sanctions announced by the UK and EU in recent days.”
“This marks the third such violation of EU airspace in days and further escalates tensions in the region.
“We will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources. Putin is testing the West’s resolve. We must not show weakness.”
A Nato spokesperson: “Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. Nato responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato’s ability to respond.”
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