RUSSIA has said it will go to war with the West if Nato acts on the threat to shoot down Moscow’s fighter jets.
Tensions have reached new heights after Russia was accused of violating Nato airspace multiple times in recent weeks – forcing the alliance to scramble fighter jets and initiate its Article 4 twice.
AFPA Russian MIG-31 fighter jet flying above the Baltic sea after violating Estonian air space[/caption]
Russian Ministry of DefenseThe Russian Ministry of Defense published footage of two Tu-95s and two Su-35s flying through the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone over the Bering Sea[/caption]
APA NORAD Command F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft (foreground) escorts a Russian Su-35 fighter, center, and Tu-95 Bear bomber[/caption]
AFPRussian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov said Nato shooting down Russian planes ‘would mean war’[/caption]
This week, Trump told Nato to shoot down Russian planes if they breach European airspace again.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the US President said member states “shouldn’t hesitate” in the face of incursions.
But Alexey Meshkov, Russia’s ambassador to France, fired back saying that shooting their aircraft down “would be war”.
“You know, there are many Nato planes that violate Russian airspace, deliberately or not, but it happens quite often. They are not shot down afterwards,” he told RTL, without providing an example.
He doubled down on Russia’s denial of any involvement in recent drone incursions across Eastern Europe.
“Russia doesn’t do that, play with anyone. It’s not really our thing,” he added.
His comments came after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonia’s airspace “without clearance” last week.
The fighter jets – capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles – flew over Vaindloo Island and stayed there for nearly 12 minutes.
Nato allies scrambled Italian F-35s to repel the Russian jets.
Shortly afterwards, Polish authorities reported a “low flyover” of Russian military planes near an oil and gas platform.
And two weeks ago, Polish authorities said they detected 19 violations of their airspace.
It prompted a dramatic million-dollar response as fighter jets were scrambled and Patriot air defence systems placed on alert.
Both Estonia and Poland initiated Nato’s Article 4 after their sovereign airspace was breached.
European diplomats have now privately warned Moscow that further incursions into Nato airspace would be met with full force, including shooting down Russian fighter jets.
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany met with Russian officials in Moscow in a tense meeting.
After the closed-door chat, the diplomats privately concluded that the violation of Estonian airspace had been a deliberate tactic ordered by Russian commanders.
Though Russian officials have denied their jets crossed Estonian airspace.
Security concerns in Europe are at a heightened state following an increase in Russian sabotage activities and multiple drone sightings.
Copenhagen Airport – the busiest hub in the Nordic region – was plunged into chaos after large drones were spotted flying close by.
While Danish authorities are still investigating the origin of the drones, they said they were likely flown by a “capable operator” who wanted to “show off”.
They are now looking into three suspected Russian vessels said to be part of Vladimir Putin’s “Shadow Fleet” over suspicions they helped launch drones into Nato airspace.
Maritime data shows that the three ships sailed close to the Danish coast and displayed unusual manoeuvres during the attack, forcing authorities to monitor them closely.
Footage showed a drone flying close to the Copenhagen airport
‘Real War’
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday said that his country is at “war” with Nato and EU over Ukraine.
“NATO and the European Union want to declare, in fact, have already declared a real war on my country and are directly participating in it,” Lavrov said at a G20 conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
His comments came just days after Trump insisted Ukraine can wrestle back all of its land snatched by Russia – and even go “further”.
He dubbed Moscow a “paper tiger”, which he said can be shredded with time, patience and tactical support.
GettyThe US president returned to the 80th UN General Assembly for the first time in five years[/caption]
Trump’s latest statement on the Ukraine war is a big shift from his earlier stance that Kyiv would have to give up territory for peace.
It also marks a dramatic swing in the President’s diplomatic support towards Ukraine – fuelled by a burning frustration with Putin.
With the change in mood, Zelensky yesterday told The Axios Show that the Russians will need to make sure where the bomb shelters are if Moscow does not end the war.
His latest comments show how Trump’s support has put the wind right back in his sails.
But former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev hit back, saying: “What the freak needs to know is that Russia can use weapons a bomb shelter won’t protect against.”
He also seemingly threatened the US with Russia’s classic nuclear rhetoric, adding: “Americans should also keep this in mind.”
Analysis: Trump’s dizzying corkscrews
By Jerome Starkey, Defence Editor
DONALD Trump doesn’t do U-Turns. He does rollercoaster loop-the-loops.
So with all his dizzying corkscrew turns and sudden policy swerves there is every risk he ends up back where he began – sucking up to tyrant Vladimir Putin and scorning President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Before Ukraine shows any relief at Trump’s sudden, full-throated support they will want to see concrete action.
That means weapons without restrictions for Kyiv and penalties for Moscow. Sanctions must hurt the Kremlin and threaten Putin’s rule.
Otherwise it’s just hot air.
It wasn’t so long ago Trump hailed Putin a “genius”. He rolled out the red carpet in Alaska last month.
He said Zelensky had “no cards”.
Now he claims Russia is on the brink of collapse, Putin’s army is a “paper tiger” and he is backing a Ukraine win – to retake all its territory and, in his words, “maybe even go further”.
That would mean conquering parts of Russia – something Ukraine has never sought.
What is behind this change of heart? A state visit to Britain, perhaps.
In between the pomp and parades Trump will have heard the MI6 view that “Putin is stringing us along”.
Spy chief Sir Richard Moore – who sees all the most secret reports on Putin’s real intentions – gave a speech the day after Trump’s visit and said: “I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukrainian capitulation.”