Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Meshkov stated that if a Russian aircraft were shot down by NATO forces, it would be the beginning of a military conflict. The diplomat said in an interview with RTL: “It would be war.”
Russia threatened NATO with war if its aircraft were attacked
Meshkov claims that Russian aircraft regularly encounter “provocative actions” by NATO aircraft, but Moscow allegedly avoids escalation. He also stated that NATO aircraft frequently violate Russian airspace, but Russia does not shoot them down. At the same time, the diplomat denied recent incursions of Russian drones and fighter jets into European skies. “Russia doesn’t play such games; it’s not our style,” he said.
Escalation in Europe
The statement comes amid a series of incidents. On September 21, NATO scrambled fighter jets to escort a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Two days earlier, three MiG-31s entered Estonian airspace and remained there for approximately 12 minutes. Tallinn summoned a Russian diplomat and appealed to its allies under NATO’s Article 4. Moscow denies the violation.
Norway also reported that Russian aircraft have violated its airspace three times this year, each incursion lasting between one and four minutes.
US Response
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that NATO countries will only shoot down Russian aircraft that are actually attacking alliance territory. Meanwhile, on September 24, NORAD reported that American F-16s intercepted two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters operating in the ADIZ air defense zone off the coast of Alaska.
