UNITED NATIONS – Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a stark warning to Russia at the United Nations Security Council, saying Moscow’s incursions into NATO territory risk igniting a direct armed conflict. Her remarks came in response to recent airspace violations in Eastern Europe, which Western officials say were meant to test the alliance’s resolve.
Addressing the Security Council, Cooper declared: “Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia. Our alliance is defensive but be under no illusion, we stand ready to defend NATO’s skies and NATO’s territory.” She added that NATO would not hesitate to intercept unauthorized aircraft operating within its airspace.
The warning followed an incident on September 19, when three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without authorization, remaining for 12 minutes before withdrawing under NATO pressure. Just a week earlier, more than 20 Russian drones reportedly violated Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to engage and shoot some down. NATO consultations on the incidents are due to be held on September 23.
At the Security Council session, Cooper’s stance was echoed by other Western ministers, who argued that the growing pattern of airspace violations could not be dismissed as accidental. NATO members emphasized that repeated incursions risk undermining regional stability and escalating into wider confrontation.
Russia, however, rejected the allegations outright. Moscow’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, dismissed the accusations as “baseless” and attacked Western responses as exaggerated. “We won’t be partaking in this theatre of the absurd,” he said. “When you decide that you want to engage in a serious discussion about European security, about the fate of our common continent, about how to make this continent prosperous and secure for everybody, we’ll be ready.”
The escalating rhetorical clash highlights the growing tension between NATO and Russia, with each side warning of consequences should such incidents continue.