Overview

• France’s foreign minister said Paris would likely not order a shootdown over a mere border crossing and called for talks to tighten the alliance’s rules of engagement.
• UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said British fighters deployed under NATO’s Eastern Guard mission are prepared to confront aircraft operating in allied airspace without permission.
• Russia’s ambassador in London, Andrey Kelin, said the accusations serve to fuel tension and anti‑Russian hysteria, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the claims empty and unfounded.
• NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte stated the alliance may down aircraft that endanger civilians, and Bloomberg reported that European diplomats privately warned Moscow about potential shootdowns.
• Poland and Estonia have not presented public evidence for alleged violations, Romania reported a brief drone incursion that posed no direct threat, and Russia’s defense ministry said a Sept. 19 MiG‑31 transfer followed international airspace rules.