Latvia, Czechia, and Germany have called for tougher action against Russian military aircraft illegally breaching the airspace of the European Union and NATO. They propose downing such jets if they ignore air traffic control requests.
Recently, tensions escalated in the Baltic region: German fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea. Despite efforts to establish contact, the Russian aircraft ignored requests and was eventually forced out of NATO and EU airspace.
German politicians, including CDU's Jürgen Hardt in the Bundestag, publicly stated the necessity for strong responses to such provocations—even advocating the destruction of violators. Czechia, Latvia, and other Baltic states likewise urged for tough policies at the European level.
Meanwhile, Austria uncovered another high-ranking Russian spy, sparking debate over intelligence reforms due to the difficulty in intercepting such agents and concerns about their impunity.
US President Donald Trump said he would help Poland defend itself, though his statement was barely audible and left the international community uncertain about his intentions.
Ukraine supports the European partners' initiatives, urging concrete action against Russian aggression both nationally and at a global scale, especially during the upcoming UN session.
With mounting tensions in Europe, the issue of downing Russian airspace violators could shift from words to deeds, strengthening a cross-border coalition focused on continental security.
