Security Council Meets Again on Moscow's Alleged Airspace Violations as Allies Support Estonia
Meetings Coverage
Security Council
10002nd Meeting (AM)
SC/16177
22 September 2025
On the heels of recently reported incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace by the Russian Federation, the Security Council held another emergency meeting today following Estonia's claim that Russian Federation fighter jets violated its airspace — with most speakers condemning these actions and urging Moscow to end its war of aggression against Ukraine.
In his briefing on the incidents, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, pointed to reports that three Russian Federation MiG-31 fighters entered up to 10 kilometres inside Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on 19 September. "According to the Estonian Ministry of Defence, the incursion took place between 9:58 a.m. and 10:11 a.m. in the area of Vaindloo — a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea," he went on, adding that the jets entered Estonian airspace without permission, had their transponders switched off and did not have flight plans.
He also reported that, according to Estonian and Italian officials, Italian F-35 fighters attached to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air-defence-support mission in the Baltic States were reportedly activated to intercept the Russian Federation jets. Sweden, as part of its national response and in coordination with NATO along with Finland, also reportedly scrambled rapid-reaction aircraft. "Estonia stated that this latest incident follows four violations of its airspace by Russia this year, and it has requested consultations with NATO allies under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty," he continued, pointing to a scheduled meeting of the NATO North Atlantic Council on 23 September.
He observed that the latest development followed reported violations of Polish and Romanian airspace by Russian Federation drones, emphasizing that "violations of sovereign countries' airspace are unacceptable". Also highlighting attacks by Russian Federation drones and missiles on 20 and 21 September — which killed at least three people in Ukraine — he reiterated the need for diplomacy and for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Moscow Says Violation 'Imagined', Others Disagree
"As for the facts," said the representative of the Russian Federation in the ensuing debate, "the facts prove that, on the nineteenth of September, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets conducted a planned flight from Karelia to an airbase in Kaliningrad oblast, carried out in strict accordance with international airspace-use rules." He declared: "Today, we are compelled to watch part two of the spectacle titled 'Blame Russia for Everything'." While "our neighbours have imagined" that Moscow is at fault for an incursion into Estonian airspace, he said that — "as always" — there is no proof, except "Russophobic hysteria" from Tallinn.
However, Margus Tsahkna, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia, underscored that the "violation is crystal clear" as he held up radar screenshots and photographs of combat-ready MiG-31 fighter jets. He also stated that this was the fourth violation of Estonian airspace by Moscow in 2025, and part of a broader pattern of the Russian Federation's provocations against its neighbours. "We remember," he stressed, Moscow's 2008 occupation of Georgia, 2014 incursion into Crimea and 2022 aggression against Ukraine, and he said to the Russian Federation: "So please don't lie again — hard evidence is here."
"We are not facing a Ukraine crisis, we are faced with Russia crisis," said Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, also speaking for Lithuania. Warning that her country would "never accept Russia's attempts to attack, dominate, intimidate or establish a sphere of influence over its neighbours", she added: "Empires are dead." Latvia will continue to invest in deterrence, defence and resilience, and is also working closely with allies to deploy additional capabilities to ensure that future provocations from Moscow are not tolerated, she said.
"This new violation — this time carried out in broad daylight and by no fewer than three fighter jets, not drones — is unprecedented in over 20 years," stressed France's delegate. Pointing out that, just hours after this incursion, the Russian Federation once again struck Ukraine with 40 missiles and more than 550 drones, he added that "these violations of NATO airspace in no way undermine our determination to implement strong, robust and credible security guarantees in favour of Ukraine".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, concurred, echoing his country's "steadfast" support for Estonia and condemning Moscow's "reckless and dangerous escalations and provocations" aimed at intimidating countries from supporting Ukraine. Recalling the Russian Federation's "playbook" — the invasion of Georgia and the annexation of Crimea, among others — he said that "Russia's neighbours — not unreasonably — fear they could be the next". Addressing Moscow, he underscored: "Step back."
And for his part, Andrii Sybiha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, asked which country would be the next "dealing with Russia's provocations". Stressing that Moscow "wants to impose the law of the jungle upon everyone", he affirmed that "we must make Russia play by our rules". He therefore urged increased support for Ukraine — including an integrated European air-defence system — as ending that war sooner means that the Russian Federation will not expand it to other nations.
Many Point to Troubling Pattern
"Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three is a pattern," stressed Greece's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Georgios Gerapetritis, who condemned the incursions. He voiced solidarity with Estonia alongside other speakers from the region, including the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands and Romania. Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, condemned the grave violation of international law that took place during the "12 minutes in which three Russian fighter jets brazenly ventured into Estonian airspace".
Describing the incursion as "not merely momentary, but deliberate and dangerous", Melita Gabrič, Deputy Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, highlighted worrisome reports of new incidents over the Baltic Sea. "These deliberate provocations are symptomatic of the time we live in — a time in which violations of international law are tolerated to an extent we have not seen in modern history," she said, underlining the need to say a clear "no" to impunity.
"It cannot be that Russia accidentally violates three times in two weeks European airspace," echoed Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. She added that, if it were a mistake, Moscow had ample time to apologize; instead it showed a "pattern" of testing European borders. "Russia will continue to provoke as long as we allow it," she underscored, stressing that "European security starts with Ukraine".
"If these were accidents, why not immediately acknowledge them and apologize?", asked Radosław Sikorski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland. "We have not heard any apologies — only lies," he stressed. "We know you don't care for international law and you are incapable of living in peace with your neighbours," he said, deploring Moscow's "insane nationalism" and warning: "If another missile or aircraft enters our airspace without permission — either deliberately or by mistake — and gets shot down and the wreckage falls on NATO territory, please don't come here to whine about it."
For his part, the representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity to recall his prior warning that the violation of Poland's territorial integrity could mark "a dangerous turning point". Further, he underscored that the latest incident suggests "a troubling pattern that could proliferate and interconnect, raising the risk of grave miscalculation — or even miscommunication". Pointing to the unlawful military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which violates Council resolutions and directly threatens peace and security in both Europe and Asia, he stated: "It must stop immediately."
NATO Countries Stand Resolute, Others Urge Diplomacy
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, also speaking for Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, underscored that the Nordic region — which shares a long border with the Russian Federation — is deeply concerned over Moscow's "lack of respect for the territorial integrity of its neighbours". The Russian Federation could end its war tomorrow, she said, adding: "Until it does, the Nordics stand undeterred in the face of its illegal actions."
"The United States and its allies will defend every inch of NATO territory," said the representative of the United States, calling on Moscow to stop its dangerous behaviour. The recent airspace incursion, on the heels of the previous one, suggest that Moscow is either attempting an escalation to pull more countries into the conflict, or does not have full control of its fighter pilots or drone operators. "Either scenario is concerning," he said, highlighting his country's efforts to seek de-escalation and an end to the horrific war in Ukraine.
In a similar vein, Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, said:"We stand ready to take all steps necessary to defend NATO's skies and NATO's territory." Warning that the Russian Federation's escalatory acts risk miscalculation and open the door to direct armed confrontation with NATO, she underscored that "NATO's combined strength is unparalleled and its determination to defend peace and security in Europe is unshakable". She commended the measured and resolute response of Estonia, Poland, Romania and all NATO allies, and welcomed the alliance's launch of Operation Eastern Sentry on 12 September to ensure the safety and security of its eastern border.
Meanwhile, China's delegate — alongside speakers from Algeria, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Sierra Leone and Somalia —called for dialogue and restraint to prevent an escalation of the situation. An urgent, imperative solution must be reached in the shape of a political resolution that results in a balanced and effective European security architecture, and he called the recent incidents "spillover effects" of the Ukraine crisis resulting from a lack of mutual trust, growing suspicion and the complex nature of the European security situation. "As long as the Ukraine crisis is unresolved and the war continues," he said, "similar incidents are likely to reoccur."
Complete Live Blog coverage of today's meeting can be found here.
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