European envoys warned Moscow that NATO may down Russian jets for repeated airspace violations.
European diplomats have privately warned Moscow that NATO is prepared to shoot down Russian aircraft if airspace violations continue, BLOOMBERG reported on Friday.
According to officials familiar with the talks, British, French, and German envoys delivered the warning during a tense meeting in Moscow this week after three Russian MiG-31 jets breached Estonian airspace. The officials concluded the move was a deliberate order from Russian commanders.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report, telling state media Tass, “I don’t even want to talk about this, because it’s a very irresponsible statement,” while insisting no evidence proves Russian incursions.
NATO members along the eastern flank have reported multiple drone and jet violations this month, prompting rare consultations under Article 4 of the alliance treaty. “The UK stands ready to robustly defend our airspace against any incursion,” a British government spokesperson said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed the ambassadors warned Moscow and pledged coordination with allies. French President Emmanuel Macron declined to outline NATO’s next steps but stressed solidarity.
Russian Ambassador Alexey Meshkov cautioned: “If NATO shoots down a Russian plane under the pretext of an alleged violation of its airspace, this will be war.”