Bellicose rhetoric from Western officials is “reckless and irresponsible” in the absence of proof to back up airspace violation claims, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday in response to NATO member states' threats to shoot down Russian planes.
Peskov said there is no hard evidence to back up allegations that Russian fighter jets violated NATO members’ airspace.
“Allegations against Russia that its warplanes have violated someone’s airspace are groundless,” the official said, noting that “no credible evidence has been produced” to corroborate the claims.
Earlier this month, Poland alleged that multiple Russian drones had entered its airspace.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova rejected the claim, calling it a fabricated attempt to derail Ukraine peace talks and demonize Moscow.
Zakharova said Warsaw had refused to cooperate with an investigation, dismissing Russian Defense Ministry facts and ignoring Moscow’s consultation proposals, suggesting Poland is uninterested in the truth.
She described the allegations as part of a broader campaign aimed at vilifying Russia and undermining a political settlement in Ukraine.
Then, Estonia made similar claims of airspace violations last Friday, requesting urgent consultations with fellow NATO member states.
Moscow dismissed the fresh claims, denying any breaches of the North Atlantic military alliance’s airspace.
However, the recent incidents involving drones and aircraft in Poland and Estonia led to claims that Russian forces are testing NATO’s defense systems.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump suggested NATO member states should shoot down Russian aircraft in their airspace.
On Wednesday, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that “while the facts are still being established, it is clear we are witnessing a pattern of persistent contestation at our borders.”
“Our critical infrastructure is at risk,” she said. “And Europe will respond to this threat with strength and determination.”
She said shooting down “fighter jet[s]” that intrude into NATO airspace is “on the table.” Earlier this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he would not rule out such a scenario, but that decisions are made strictly on a case-by-case basis.
RHM
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