Featured Image Credit: RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE
Topics: News, World News, Russia, Ukraine
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: News, World News, Russia, Ukraine
Tensions remain high between Russia and Europe following reports that another NATO nation had its airspace violated.
While the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage on, it appears Russia is testing the patience of other European nations.
This has resulted in multiple NATO leaders condemning Russia for violating airspace.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk only last week said that Russian drones had entered their airspace during an attack on Ukraine.
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The Kremlin later issued a statement saying that at no point were there any targets for the drones in Poland.
These growing tensions show no sign of subsiding anytime soon, as Estonia has now said it is a victim of Russia violating its airspace - but not with drones this time.
Three Russian military jets crossed into the NATO-member country’s airspace on Friday (September 19).
The jets were identified as Russian MiG-31 fighters and were in Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes, according to the country’s government.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna addressed this in a statement.
He said: “Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen.
“Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.”
This new incident only adds to the fears that a more dramatic development could spark WW3.
EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, took to social media to comment on Russia’s actions.
She said: “Today's violation of Estonia's airspace by Russian military aircraft is an extremely dangerous provocation.
“This marks the third such violation of EU airspace in days and further escalates tensions in the region. The EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia.
“I am in close contact with the Estonian government.
“We will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defenses with European resources.
“Putin is testing the West's resolve. We must not show weakness.”
It is not yet clear how Estonia will respond to this move by Russia.
After its airspace had been violated, Poland requested to invoke NATO's Article 4, which means NATO members 'will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened'.
Any NATO member may request to activate Article 4 if 'territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened'.