European Security Policy

Foreign Minister: “An unprecedented act of brutality”

Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace constitutes an “unprecedented act of brutality,” says the country’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, writes Estonia’s ERR.

– Russia has already violated Estonian airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable, but today’s violation is an unprecedented act of brutality, says Tsahkna.

He says that Russia is increasingly trying to test the borders and that this should be met with a “rapid increase in political and economic pressure.”

The Russian violation took place just over a week after Russian drones violated Polish airspace and were shot down.

EU summit on violation: “Extremely dangerous provocation”

The European Commission’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reacts strongly to the Russian violation, describing it as an “extremely dangerous provocation.”

“This is the third violation of EU airspace in a few days and it further escalates tensions in the region,” she writes on X.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) writes in an email to Omni that the violation is “very alarming.”

“This incident, like other Russian violations of NATO countries’ airspace in recent times, once again illustrates the seriousness of the Russian threat to European security and that our and NATO’s preparedness is constantly being tested,” he writes.

He also writes that the Swedish Air Force is on constant alert and that Sweden stands in solidarity with its allies.

EU to discuss response: “Urgent need to strengthen our eastern flank”

European Council President António Costa writes on X that the EU will discuss a joint response to Russian violations of the Union’s airspace, Reuters reports.

The discussions will take place on October 1 at the Council meeting in Copenhagen.

Costa's post is a response to Friday's Russian violation of Estonian airspace.

"It once again underscores the urgent need to strengthen our eastern flank, deepen European defense cooperation, and increase pressure on Russia," he writes.

Minister: “Worth thinking about” how Russian plane was shot down

NATO must show that it is serious about Russia’s aggression. This is what Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė writes on X after several Russian planes violated Estonian airspace on Friday.

She writes that Turkey set an example ten years ago. Then the country shot down a Russian plane after it flew into Turkish airspace from Syria.

“Worth thinking about”, writes Šakalienė.

Estonia has invoked NATO’s Article 4 and the NATO Council is due to meet early next week.