ISLAMABAD: The UN Security Council (UNSC) will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss Russian incursions over Estonia’s airspace, the Estonian foreign office said on Sunday.
“When such actions are committed by a permanent member of the Security Council, they must be addressed by that very body,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a post on X.
He added that Russia’s actions “undermine principles vital to the security of all UN member states.”
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said the emergency meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. E.T. on Monday.
Estonia’s request for a UNSC meeting comes 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.
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, has denied its jets entered Estonian airspace. It insisted that the flights were conducted “in strict accordance with international rules.”
Ukraine has also submitted a request to attend the Security Council meeting and present its position. The request was directed to the Republic of Korea, which holds the rotating presidency of the council.
“For the first time in 34 years, Estonia has requested an emergency UNSC meeting,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. “This shows the unprecedented scale of threats posed by aggressive Russia to the stability of Europe.”
Meanwhile, NATO's North Atlantic Council has also called a meeting for Tuesday to discuss Russia's violation of Estonian airspace, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday, specifying the date that so far has only been described as early next week, Reuters reported.
Tallinn said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission on Friday and stayed for a total of 12 minutes before they were forced to withdraw.
Estonia requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty after the incident that it described as an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion.
Article 4 states that NATO members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
Russia's Defence Ministry denied its jets violated Estonian airspace, saying they flew over neutral waters.
With tensions already high because of the war in Ukraine, the incursion came just over a week after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on the night of September 9-10.
With input from wires.
