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Estonia delivers clear messages to Russia at the OSCE on airspace violation

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.09.2025 | 16:10

Today, 24 September, at Estonia's initiative, a special joint meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Forum for Security Co-operation and the Permanent Council took place in Vienna, where Estonia's Ambassador to the OSCE, Kaja Tael, addressed all participating states, including Russia, regarding last week's airspace violation. In addition to joint statements by the European Union and NATO, almost all EU and NATO member states made national statements in support of Estonia.

"Russia is responsible for serious military incidents that have taken place beyond its borders. The breach of NATO's airspace by Russian warplanes and drones is a dangerous and reckless escalation that has been condemned in the strongest possible terms. They were discussed by the UN Security Council on Monday, and by NATO on Tuesday. We have often heard Russia's complaints in the OSCE that there is a lack of dialogue and unwillingness to listen to each other. Today, we are using the platform of the OSCE to talk directly to Russia: stop your provocations on NATO territory and end your war of aggression in Ukraine," Tael said at the special joint meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation and the Permanent Council.

She emphasised that in addition to serious violations in Poland, Romania, Latvia and Lithuania, the violation of Estonian airspace by Russia on 19 September was already the fourth such incident this year. "This consistent use of force has become a pattern of Russian provocations," Tael added.

"It seems that Russia has fallen into the trap of its own disinformation, and, imagining itself to be at war with NATO, they don't shrink from aggressive and provocative actions against NATO countries. This brinkmanship has to end," Ambassador Tael said.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security cooperation organisation. The OSCE comprises 57 participating states from Europe, North America and Asia. Estonia has been a member since September 1991. Both the OSCE and its Forum for Security Co-operation are currently chaired by Finland.