The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to talk about Russian incursions over Estonia’s airspace, Estonian and UN officers stated Sunday.
Estonia requested the emergency meeting after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland with out permission on Friday. The jets remained for 12 minutes earlier than being intercepted by NATO, in accordance to the Estonian Foreign Ministry and an alliance spokesperson.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated in a publish on X on Sunday that Russia’s actions “undermine principles vital to the security of all UN member states.”
“When such actions are committed by a permanent member of the Security Council, they must be addressed by that very body,” Tsahkna wrote.
According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, the Security Council is anticipated to talk about what the ministry described as a “blatant, reckless, and flagrant violation of NATO airspace” and Russia’s “repeated violations of international law.”
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied its jets entered Estonian airspace, insisting the flights have been carried out “in strict accordance with international rules.”
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary basic, stated the emergency meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. E.T. on Monday.
Ukraine has additionally submitted a request to attend the Security Council meeting and current its place. The request was directed 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 additionally has requested NATO Article 4 consultations, the mechanism which permits any member to formally convey a problem to the eye to the alliance’s precept political decision-making physique. A meeting is due to happen this week.
Estonia is the second NATO member to have requested Article 4 consultations in current days, following Poland’s request final week after a number of Russian drones and fighter jets entered its airspace.
Separately, Swedish and German forces reported on Sunday that Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and German Eurofighters have been scrambled over the South Baltic Sea to establish and monitor a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance plane flying in worldwide airspace with out a flight plan or radio contact.
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