NATO allies, including the UK, are pledging to address recent violations of their airspace by Russian aircraft and drones. This commitment was made during a United Nations meeting, where officials expressed concerns that these actions could lead to armed conflict.

The situation escalated last week when three Russian fighter jets entered NATO airspace. Additionally, drones were reported to have fallen into Polish territory. A Russian military aircraft also entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea, prompting NATO to deploy planes to escort it back.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed the Security Council, stating, "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. If we need to confront planes operating in NATO space without permission then we will do so."

On Friday, Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets had entered its airspace without authorization, remaining for 12 minutes before being forced to leave. Western officials believe these incidents are tests of NATO's readiness and resolve. This confrontation follows a recent event where over 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, leading NATO jets to shoot some down.

Cooper's remarks were supported by other Western ministers, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who indicated that the frequency of these incidents suggests they are not mere accidents.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for a strong response to Russia's actions. He reiterated Kyiv's offer to integrate its air defenses with those of neighboring Western countries to better counter the Russian threat. "A strong response means that a threat should not be escorted, neither for 12 minutes, nor for one minute. It should be neutralized," he stated.

Mike Waltz, the new U.S. envoy to the UN, emphasized the need for Russia to de-escalate tensions. "I want to take this first opportunity to repeat and to emphasize the United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory," he said.

In response, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmytry Polyanskiy, dismissed the claims made by NATO allies, stating there was no evidence to support them. He accused European nations of making unfounded accusations and remarked, "We won't be partaking in this theatre of the absurd. 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."