European Diplomats Privately Warn Russia NATO Could Down Violating Jets

European diplomats have delivered a private warning to Moscow that NATO is prepared to respond more forcefully to future airspace violations by Russian military aircraft, including the possibility of shooting them down.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Bloomberg.

According to the outlet, the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France raised their concerns during a tense meeting in Moscow following the September 19 incident, when three Russian fighter jets crossed into Estonian airspace. 

Diplomats told their Russian counterparts that the incursion was deliberate and underscored NATO’s readiness to act if such provocations continue.

A Russian representative at the meeting reportedly claimed that recent airspace breaches were “responses to Ukrainian attacks on Crimea,” which, he alleged, “would not have been possible without NATO support.” The publication did not specify which incidents the Kremlin was referring to.

The meeting, held on September 22, included Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and was publicly framed as part of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

The warning aligns with recent statements from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s position that Russian aircraft violating Alliance airspace should be shot down. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also suggested she would not rule out such measures, though French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced reservations.

As The Gaze reported earlier, NATO condemned Russia's recent violation of Estonian airspace and promised to use all necessary military and non-military means to protect its allies and fulfill its obligations under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.