The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss Russian incursions over Estonia’s airspace, Estonian and UN officials said Sunday,
CNN reports.
Estonia requested the emergency meeting after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission on Friday. The jets remained for 12 minutes before being intercepted by NATO, according to the Estonian Foreign Ministry and an alliance spokesperson.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a post 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 expected to discuss 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 were conducted “in strict accordance with international rules.” That denial was repeated on Monday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said the accusations were escalating tensions.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said the emergency meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. E.T. on Monday.
