A warning to the Kremlin that NATO is ready to respond with full force to any further violations of its airspace, including the shooting down of Russian aircraft, has reached Moscow.
Bloomberg reports that European diplomats held talks this week with Russian officials, and during the tense meeting in Moscow, the British, French and Germans expressed serious concerns about the recent violation of Estonian airspace by three MiG-31 fighter jets.
Diplomats concluded that the airspace violation was a deliberate act ordered by the Russian military leadership. However, the Russian side denied any violation of Estonian airspace, stating that it had no intention of provoking or testing NATO's response.
Regarding the drone incident in Poland, Moscow attributed the blame to a "technical error", while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian military flights are in compliance with international rules.
But the latest incidents have raised concerns among NATO's eastern allies, as they come at a time when Vladimir Putin is stepping up attacks on Ukraine's political infrastructure and US support for Kiev is showing signs of weakening.
US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to reclaim all territory seized by Russia, with the support of the European Union, and has said the US role will be limited to selling weapons to the front.
The meeting in Moscow offers a glimpse of the growing tension and diplomatic conflict that is unfolding behind the scenes, Bloomberg reports.
During the talks, a Russian diplomat claimed that the violations were retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Crimea, accusing NATO of supporting these operations. As a result, Moscow now sees itself in conflict with European countries.
European officials noted that the Russian delegation was taking extensive notes of their statements, indicating a possible order to immediately inform the leadership in the Kremlin about NATO's position.
A German government spokesman confirmed that a meeting had taken place and that the ambassadors made it clear that the violations must stop. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that he was in coordination with Paris, London and Warsaw and supported “all necessary measures.”