Russian fighter jets have encroached on the air space of NATO countries in recent weeks including Estonia and now Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said they would shoot down enemy aircraft
Poland will shoot down Russian fighter jets if they violate its territory, says Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“I want to be very clear. We will make a decision to shoot down flying objects without discussion when they violate our territory and fly over Poland. There is no room for debate here,” Tusk told a press conference today.
It follows a series of incidents in which Russian drones or warplanes entered airspace of Poland, Romania, and, last Friday, Estonia, when three Russian MiG-31 jets remained in the NATO member state’s airspace for nearly 12 minutes before the alliance scrambled jets in response.
Vladimir Putin has sent three fighter jets into a NATO member’s airspace in what was seen as a major escalation.
The MIG-31 jets went into the prohibited area on Friday morning without permission from the NATO member.
These Russia aircraft reportedly flew over the Vaindloo Island area and stayed in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes. The jets did not have two-way radio communication with local air traffic controllers and their transponders turned off.
Officials in Estonia blasted Putin’s government for the violation and marked the incursion “unprecedentedly brutal”.
NATO confirmed the organisation intercepted the aircraft, saying: “Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. Nato responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato’s ability to respond.”
And now Tusk also told a press conference today that he wants to have “100 percent certainty” that Poland’s NATO allies will view any incursion in the same way, so that “if the conflict enters a very acute phase, we will not be alone.”
After the incursion into Estonia’s airspace, the country’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, said he could invoke NATO’s Article 4, which calls for discussions among allies over threats to territorial security.
Michal, on X, wrote: “This morning, 3 Russian Mig-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace. NATO fighters responded and the Russian planes were forced to flee. Such violation is totally unacceptable. The Government of Estonia has decided to request NATO Article 4 consultations.”
Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, also said Russian diplomats had been summoned following the shocking escalation, ERR reports.
Tsahkna said: “Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which in itself is unacceptable, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brutal.
“Russia’s increasing border testing and aggression must be met with rapid reinforcement of political and economic pressure.”