The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting following Russian jet incursions into Estonian airspace,a move prompted by a request from Estonia and supported by Ukraine. The meeting, scheduled for this week, marks the first time in 34 years Estonia has requested such a session, highlighting escalating tensions in the region.
The airspace violations have triggered a series of responses from NATO members. Estonia has invoked Article 4 consultations, a mechanism allowing any member to bring an issue to the alliance’s attention, following a similar request from poland last week after its airspace was also breached. These incidents underscore growing concerns about Russian military activity near NATO borders and the potential for miscalculation.
Ukraine has also submitted a request to attend the Security Council meeting and present its position, directing the request to the Republic of Korea, which holds the rotating presidency of the council.
“For the first time in 34 years, Estonia has requested an emergency UNSC meeting,” ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister andrii sybiha wrote on X. “This shows the unprecedented scale of threats posed by aggressive Russia to the stability of Europe.”
Following the airspace violation, Estonia’s Article 4 consultation will convene the alliance’s principle political decision-making body this week.
Separately, Swedish and German forces reported on Sunday that Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and German Eurofighters were scrambled over the South Baltic Sea to identify and monitor a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace without a flight plan or radio contact.
