Russian provocations: “Clear the fact that every further Russian military aircraft will be shot down immediately” | EUROtoday

Russia has violated NATO airspace a number of instances previously few days. On Friday, based on Estonian data, three MIG 31 jets from the Russian Air Force had penetrated into the airspace of the Baltic Land over the Gulf of Finland and remained there for a complete of twelve minutes. Previously, Poland and Romania had reported Russian drones of their airspace. International media name for a “red line” of NATO to the Kremlin.

“Postimees” (Estonia): Why we did not shot down the fighter jets

“Twitter and similar platforms are full of questions why Estonia or NATO did not shot down the Russian planes. Estonia does not really have anything to shoot (…). In this situation, however, it was not sensible that NATO fighter aircraft opened the fire if the aircraft are not on the other hand, as is wrongly claimed in the information space.

Estonia’s plan (based on the information from the parties involved) was to make a major international topic out of it in order to increase NATO’s vigilance in the northeast. Because it is assumed that Russia has started a more or less long campaign of military provocations against NATO. And that’s why we have to inform the allies at an early stage. “

“NZZ” (Switzerland): The West is helpless towards drones

Within ten days, “with Estonia, a second NATO state has applied for consultations with its alliance partners in accordance with Article 4 of the military contract because he sees his security threatened. That has been alarming. Since its existence, NATO has not been challenged by an external opponent. However, Wladimir Putin provokes the Europeans with drones and fighter jets that are in the airspace, Romania or Estonia’s flying.

You can’t fool yourself: Europe is already in a military conflict with Russia. The Ukraine War cannot be contained. Russia wants to see how far the challenge of NATO can go. The reason is clear. Since the ‘Peace Summit’ in Alaska in August, Putin knows that he has the US president in his hands and that NATO’s political cohesion eroded. How should Europe react? Consultations in the Alliance have to provide clear announcements: Continued injuries to the NATO airspace have a prize-in the extreme case the shooting. And NATO could definitely declare the airspace of West Ukraine into its new security zone. Russian drones and rockets are no longer acceptable there. “

“The Sunday Times” (Great Britain): NATO has to pull red lines

“Undoubtedly President Putin increases his military actions against NATO, explores her territory and tests her border protection. How should NATO react? Russia’s activities have so far not been regarded as a sufficient reason to apply Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty that says that an armed attack on an NATO member should be regarded as an attack on everyone. Provocation.

Estonia has rightly requested a NATO consultation in accordance with Article 4 that can be triggered if the territorial integrity or security of a country is threatened. “Putin tests the determination of the West, we are not allowed to show any weakness,” said EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas, a former Prime Minister of Estonia. Previously, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned that his country was closer to a conflict than ever since the Second World War. (…)

The European countries received significant commitments in the field of defense last year, but Putin’s recent actions show that this has not been sufficient so far and that the Kremlin continues to feel encouraged to provoke the continent on the eastern flank of the continent.

This requires a serious answer. NATO will check a change in its operational rules to enable a faster reaction to Russian airspace injuries. It is essential that it pulls red lines and does not allow that such Russian aggression become routine. ”

“The Standard” (Austria): The worse it goes, the louder Putin rattles with the saber

“First the drone flights deep to Poland, then the Sapad maneuver in Belarus, recently the stationing of nuclear-waffle-capable ISKander M rockets in Kaliningrad-the worse it runs on the front for Russia, the loudly rattles Putin with the sab. After all, the former KGB agent should not fear little more than that in the west Increased.

What remains the Kremlin are provocations against its neighbors: it was Poland, possibly the next. The Baltic States. Cheap drones, as Russia sent her across the border last week, are enough to see NATO- and to scare people in East and Central Europe afraid of a supposedly overpowering Russia. ”

“Washington Post” (USA): Shoot every further Russian aircraft immediately

“The threat coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the direction of the NATO states turns into ruthless. He didn’t need to worry any penalties for a drone assault on Poland and escalated the scenario by making three MIG 31 fighter plane fly into the Estonian airspace on Friday. that penetrates into their airspace and is straight away shot down.

The fourth violation of Russia in regards to the airspace of Estonia, which has been a member of the NATO since 2004, was the incident on Friday. Accidents occur, however this time the jets flew with out submitted flight plans and with transferred transponders. They refused to react to the air visitors management and revolve it for a complete twelve minutes.

Almost a decade in the past, Turkey gave an instance of tips on how to react to such habits. On November 24, 2015, the long-time NATO member shot a Russian SU-24 combat jet above his border with Syria. The incident didn’t set off a Third World War, however Putin made it clear that he would pay a prize if he put the dedication of a rustic to the take a look at.

The current provocations of Russia, triggered by the inactivity of President Donald Trump after his summit with Putin, purpose to weaken NATO’s mutual protection ensures. Putin has hardly skilled resistance from Trump and acted accordingly. It has now turn out to be essential to warn Russia that his ruthless habits could have penalties – and in addition to implement this. “