NATO-East flank: Kremlin criticizes NATO shooting threats

The Kremlin criticized NATO’s willingness to shoot off Russian aircraft if necessary. The atmosphere in Europe is getting more and more heated by itself, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow on Russian state television. “Explanations that Russian planes have to be fired are at least reckless, irresponsible and of course dangerous because of their consequences,” he said.

Once more, he rejected the allegations that Russia violated the Estonian airspace. There is no evidence at all, he said. In turn, he accused the West escalation.

Sharp warning from Brussels to Moscow

At the request of Estonia, the NATO countries came together for a special meeting at the headquarters in Brussels after three Mig-31 Russian fighter jets had flown through Estonian airspace for around twelve minutes over the Baltic Sea. In the subsequent declaration, the military alliance warned against further border violations under the threat of violence.

The already tense relationships between Russia and NATO have deteriorated since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine in 2022. Before Tallinn, Warsaw had already sued that Russian drones had penetrated the Polish airspace. Several flight objects were shot down – but in this case, too, Moscow declined responsibility for the incidents.