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Mike Waltz condemned Russia for violating Estonian and Polish airspace, reaffirming US and NATO commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory amid rising tensions at the UN.
Mike Waltz as US Ambassador to the United Nations (Reuters Image)
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Monday condemned Russia’s repeated incursions of NATO territory and emphasised that the United States and its allies “will defend every inch of NATO territory”.
In remarks at an emergency meeting of the UN body after Russian jets entered Estonian airspace, Waltz said: “This event, following on the heels of the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, creates the impression that Russia either wants to escalate and pull more countries into this conflict with Ukraine, or doesn’t have full control of those who operate its fighter planes and drones. Either scenario is very disconcerting, given that Russia is obviously a nuclear power with global reach.”
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He further said that nine days ago the council had met to discuss Russia’s violation of Poland’s airspace with a large number of military drones and urged Russia “to end the war in Ukraine and stop actions that could risk it escalating into a broader conflict.”
He said that despite that, Russia “again violated the airspace of a Nato member”. “…the United States stands by our NATO Allies in the face of these airspace violations. And I want to take this first opportunity to repeat, and to emphasise, the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behaviour,” he added.
The envoy also called on Russia, which is a permanent member of UNSC, “to uphold international peace and security, to respect the sovereignty of its neighbours, to cease violating their airspace. And I call on Russia to negotiate directly with Ukraine to end that war”.
Meanwhile, Russia on Monday rejected Estonia’s allegations that Russian fighter jets violated the latter’s airspace, and warned that countries making such accusations risked “escalating tensions”.
Russia considers Estonia’s statements “empty, unfounded, and a continuation of the country’s utterly unstoppable policy of escalating tensions and provoking a confrontational atmosphere,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The Kremlin’s remarks came after NATO claimed that its aircraft intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighters last week after they crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland.
Estonia said that the three fighter jets entered its airspace without permission in the area of Vaindloo Island, around 100 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital Tallinn, and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes.
Tallinn had requested for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the airspace violation. It also requested an urgent consultation with other NATO members under Article 4 of the NATO treaty to discuss the issue.
Article 4 of the NATO treaty is generally invoked to formally begin urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, bringing the United States and European countries together for collective defence.
New York, United States of America (USA)
September 23, 2025, 01:03 IST
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