Donald Trump has broken his silence after three Russian jets entered Estonia’s air space without permission on Friday. The aircraft remained there for 12 minutes, with the violation of NATO air space being the third in a little more than a week.
The MiG-31 fighters were intercepted, a spokesperson for the alliance confirmed, and Estonia summoned Russia’s senior diplomat in the country’s capital Tallinn over the incident. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on social media: “The UK stands with our Estonian allies, following yet another reckless incursion into NATO airspace by Russia. We must continue to increase pressure on Putin, including driving forward the important new economic sanctions announced by the UK and EU in recent days.” Now, US President Mr Trump has weighed in.
He told reporters: “I don’t love it. I don’t like when that happens.” Then, he issued a five word warning: “It could be big trouble.” “I’ll let you know later.”
Mr Trump also said: “I’m going to have to look at it. They’re going to be briefing me in a short while, so I’ll let you know about it tonight or tomorrow.”
The EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas, described Russia’s latest violation as an “extremely dangerous provocation” that “further escalates tension in the region”.
She then warned that Vladimir Putin was “testing the West’s resolve”.
The incursion came 10 days after Russian drones entered Polish air space, and six days after another Russian drone was intercepted flying over Romania.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned his country was the closest to “open conflict” it had been since World War 2.
The UK announced it would provide Warsaw with extra air cover in the form of RAF jets.
Estonian foreign minister, Margus Tsakhna, said Russia had already violated Estonian airspace four times this year “but today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen.”
He added: “Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure.”
The Estonian military told the Associated Press that the Russian planes flew parallel to the country’s border from east to west and did not head towards Tallinn.
