Asked to comment on Russia's violation of the airspace of NATO countries by Russia, von der Leyen emphasized that she was not a representative of the alliance, but in her opinion “We must defend every square centimeter of our territory.”
Continued article under video material
– this means that in the event that the plane invaded the airspace, after warning, after a clear selection (that it was violated – ed.), Of course, we will consider the possibility of shooting down a combat machine that threatens our safety She said in a conversation with the American station published on Wednesday. – I would like to express myself very clearly. We must not violate our territory.
Ursula von der Leyen on the defense of the EU airspace
“Russia conducts tests in all fields,” said the chairwoman of the EC, adding that Europe has been experiencing a hybrid war for years, which Russia is conducting against democratic statesboth belonging to the EU and others. “That's why we fight in all fields,” she added.
At night, about 20 Russian drones invaded Poland from 9 to 10 September. The head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas stated that according to preliminary premises it was a deliberate action and – as she assessed – the most serious violation of European airspace by Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
A few days later, on September 13, the Russian drone violated Romania's airspace. On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters burst into the airspace of Estonia for about 12 minutes. The authorities in Tallinn said that the planes were flying without reported flight plans, with the transponders off and refused to respond to calls for air traffic control.
In response to this event of the Minister of Defense of Lithuania Dovile Szakaliene suggested that the correct response to Moscow's activities would be to shoot down aircraft. A similar opinion was expressed by the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel.
On Monday, deputy prime minister, head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski asked the UN Security Council meeting Russia that she would not make complaints if a missile or aircraft violates NATO airspace and is shot down. The next day, US President Donald Trump, when he thinks, NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace, replied: “Yes, I think so.”
