Wadephul: Incursion by Russian fighter jets is “unacceptable”
NATO partner Estonia complains that Russian fighter jets violated its airspace. The German foreign minister expressed his full solidarity in response.
Berlin (dpa) – Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has criticised the incursion into Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets on Friday, describing it as “unacceptable”. “Vigilance is the price of freedom,” he wrote on the platform X, adding that this principle of NATO had lost none of its relevance. “The unacceptable violation of Estonian airspace by Russia today demonstrates this with utmost clarity.”
Wadephul wrote that he had assured his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna of Germany’s full solidarity. “By immediately intercepting the Russian aircraft, we demonstrate: NATO is always ready to defend.”
Earlier, Estonia had reported that its airspace had been breached by Russia. According to army sources, three MIG-31 fighter jets had entered the country’s airspace without permission close to the Baltic Sea island of Vaindloo in the morning and remained there for a total of twelve minutes. NATO fighter jets responded and the Russian aircraft were forced to retreat. Russia denied this version of events.