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Poland's foreign minister issued a stark warning to Moscow on Monday, declaring that Russia should not complain if its aircraft are shot down after entering Polish territory, as diplomatic tensions escalate over alleged airspace violations across NATO's eastern flank.
Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council session in New York, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski delivered an unusually direct message to Russian officials following incidents earlier this month involving downed Russian drones on Polish soil.
"If another missile or other object were to enter our airspace, whether intentionally or accidentally, and if it were shot down and the debris fell on NATO territory, don't come here to complain. You've been warned," Sikorski told the council meeting.
The Polish minister's comments came as Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace last week, flying 100 kilometers over sovereign Estonian territory after penetrating 10 kilometers into the country's borders. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna confirmed the breach at Monday's session.
Sikorski characterized the incidents as part of what he termed Russia's "hybrid war" against Western nations, citing a pattern of provocations that extends beyond airspace violations. He accused Moscow of involvement in assassinations, cyberattacks, arson cases across Europe, and attacks on Ukrainian diplomatic facilities.
"These airspace violations are suspicious because they constitute an escalation of the hybrid war that Russia has been waging against the West for years," Sikorski said.
The emergency Security Council meeting, requested by Estonia and convened by South Korea during its council presidency, brought together foreign ministers from key NATO allies including the UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also participated.
The diplomatic confrontation reflects growing tensions along NATO's eastern border as the alliance grapples with what members describe as increasingly aggressive Russian behavior. Lithuania, Estonia, and the Czech Republic have urged NATO to consider stronger defensive measures in response.
President Donald Trump addressed the escalating situation on Sunday, pledging American support for Poland and the Baltic states should the alleged Russian incursions intensify.
Sikorski's remarks included pointed criticism of Russian foreign policy spanning more than a century, referencing Moscow's role in major 20th-century conflicts. "In 1914, you hastened the outbreak of World War I, which led to your Bolshevik Revolution," he said, addressing Russian representatives directly. "Do not start another war."
The Polish minister also highlighted Russia's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, now in its third year. "Your three-day 'special military operation' has not even been able to conquer Donbas for 10 years," he said, referring to separatist efforts in eastern Ukraine that began in 2014.
Separately on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his own security council, blaming Western actions for undermining nuclear arms control frameworks. Putin claimed that "the foundations of constructive relations and practical cooperation between states possessing nuclear weapons have been seriously undermined" due to what he called "highly destructive actions previously undertaken by Western countries."
The diplomatic exchange underscores the deteriorating relationship between Russia and NATO members, with airspace violations adding a new dimension to already strained ties over the war in Ukraine and broader security concerns across Europe.
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