European allies warn they will shoot down Russian jets or drones that violate NATO airspace

Source: CNN World

Updated Sep 23, 2025, 3:35 AM ET
PUBLISHED Sep 21, 2025, 7:01 PM ET


European allies warned they would shoot down Russian jets or drones involved in any further violations of NATO airspace during a fiery emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday.

Estonia, a NATO member, requested the meeting after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission on Friday.

At the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Moscow was risking “a direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia.” “Our alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion … if we need to confront planes that are operating in NATO airspace without permission, then we will do so,” she said.

And in what was his first appearance as the new US ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz told the Security Council that the United States and its allies “will defend every inch of NATO territory.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/21/europe/estonia-un-security-council-russian-jet-incursions-latam-intl