4 d. ago NATO could lower the threshold required to shoot down Russian jets following repeated incursions by Putin, senior alliance commander reveals

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of NATO's military committee, confirmed such a move was being considered but insisted it was too early to decide.

Politics

4 d. ago Russia’s provocations are menacing Nato. The cold war shows how it needs to respond | Sergey Radchenko

Despite the cost of shooting down fighter jets and drones, small skirmishes remind both sides of the dangers of escalationEarlier this month, a swarm of Russian drones violated Poland’s borders. Some were shot down. A few days later, another Russian drone overflew Romania en route to Ukraine. The Romanian air defence let it get away. Then, on 19 September, three Russian MiG-31 fighters intruded into Estonia’s airspace. Italian F-35s – in the area on a Nato mission – intercepted the Russians and saw them off.Although this is hardly the first time Russia has violated Nato’s airspace, the extent and the brazen nature of these latest provocations make them stand out. Incursions will end only when the intruders are shot down. Fortunately, shooting down an occasional Russian fighter jet, never mind drones, is very unlikely to lead to a broader escalation. It may even help cool down tensions by reinforcing the red lines.Sergey Radchenko is Wilson E Schmidt distinguished professor at the He...

Events

7 d. ago Putin tests West as FIVE Russian fighters come perilously close to Nato airspace – after warning shooting them means WW3

FIVE Russian fighter jets were caught flying perilously close to Nato airspace after Moscow warned shooting them would lead to all-out war. The Nato Allied Air Command said it intercepted three MiG-31s, one Su-30 and one Su-35 fighter jets flying in a formation off the coast of Latvia. Two Hungarian Gripen fighter jets were scrambled...

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7 d. ago Russian jets near US airspace amid soaring tensions post Trump's 'shoot down' order

Russian fighter jets have flown near US airspace for the ninth time this year, just days after President Donald Trump said he would not hesitate to shoot down Russian aircraft that enter international territory

Events

7 d. ago The Guardian view on Nato airspace incursions: Russia is testing European and US will. It won’t stop here | Editorial

The escalation in recent days is raising alarm. It forms part of Moscow’s broader pattern of probing and provocationThe sheer volume of headlines tells its own tale. Russian drones over Poland and Romania. Russian fighter jets in Estonian airspace. Russian aircraft buzzing a German naval frigate in the Baltic Sea. Unidentified drones over Copenhagen and Oslo airports. Most recently, in the early hours of Thursday, further drones appearing at other Danish airports.In just over a fortnight, European states have reported a striking spate of incursions into their airspace. Russia has repeatedly denied responsibility and questions remain over individual events: so far, Denmark has said only that a “professional actor” was at work in the airport incidents and that it can’t rule out Russia. But overall, there is a pattern which fits clearly into Moscow’s longer record of provocations and often implausible deniability – and which amounts to a notable escalation. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago US & Canada scramble fighter jets to intercept Russian nuclear bombers off Alaska coast

THE US and Canada have scrambled fighters jets to intercept four Russian military planes off the Alaskan coast. It comes amid growing concerns over the Kremlin's incursion into Nato airspace. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it tracked two Russian Tu-95s and two Su-35s buzzing over the Alaskan coast.

Events

7 d. ago Fighter jets waving at Nato and Alaska incursions: Every time Russia has tested the airspace of Ukraine’s allies

Several countries in the alliance have reported incursions by drones into their airspace in recent weeks

Politics

9 d. ago Trump declares Ukraine can retake all territory from Putin in dramatic reversal after Russian fighter jet incursion

President Donald Trump has made a major reversal on the Russia war, claiming on Tuesday that Ukraine is positioned to retake all of its lost territory and more.

Politics

9 d. ago Trump gives NATO the green light to shoot down Russian jets in sinister warning to Putin

Donald Trump insisted that NATO nations should feel emboldened to shoot down Russian planes if they enter their countries' airspace.

Events

9 d. ago Trump says Nato countries should shoot down Russian aircraft entering their airspace – US politics live

US president’s comments come after series of drone incursions by Russian fighter jets; Trump also scolds European countries over migration Trump calls for nations to close borders and expel foreigners in UN speech: ‘Your countries are being ruined’Fact-check: Trump’s false and misleading claims during his UN addressWhile the Secret Service hasn’t confirmed that the telecommunications threat was targeting the United Nations general assembly, the agency said that the devices were “concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting” and the investigation is ongoing.The Secret Service added that early forensic analysis of the deviced indicates “cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement”. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago Russian fighter jets crossing into Nato air space should be shot down, says Trump

US president also warns that immigration and green energy policies will be ‘the death of western Europe’

Politics

9 d. ago Trump says Ukraine in position to win back all of its territory

US president also said Russian fighter jets crossing into Nato air space should be shot down

Politics

1 week ago British jets are ready to 'confront' Russian planes in NATO airspace, foreign secretary warns after Poland declared it would 'shoot down flying objects without question'

Yvette Cooper condemned recent Russian incursions into NATO airspace as she addressed the UN Security Council for the first time as Foreign Secretary.

Events

1 week ago Poland's Donald Tusk warns country will shoot any Russian planes in its airspace

Russian fighter jets have encroached on the air space of NATO countries in recent weeks including Estonia and now Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said they would shoot down enemy aircraft

Events

1 week ago Poland's PM says the country will 'shoot down flying objects without question' after Czech president demanded NATO destroys any Russian jets that enter its airspace

Poland's prime minister says his nation will not hesitate to shoot down objects that violate its airspace and pose a threat. 

Politics

1 week ago 'NATO should shoot down Russian jets that stray into alliance territory': Call for tough action after Putin's warplanes entered Estonian airspace

Mr Pavel said the organisation should act decisively to stop any breach of allied skies and make clear there are consequences for crossing the line.

Events

1 week ago UK jets fly over Poland as NATO bolsters strength over latest Russian incursions

Russia's latest infraction upon international borders saw Soviet drones shot down earlier this month, with British jets backing up ally Poland through weekend-long patrols through their airspace

Politics

1 week ago NATO scrambles jets for third day in a row after Russian spy plane enters airspace

NATO was forced to scramble jets for the third day in a row after a Russian spy plane entered its airspace, with the military pact responding to the incursion.

Politics

1 week ago German and Swedish fighter jets track Russian plane over Baltic Sea

On Friday three Russian fighter aircraft entered Estonia’s airspace without permission

Politics

1 week ago German jets scrambled after Russian military plane flies over Baltic Sea

Russian Il-20M reconnaissance plane ignored requests to make contact, in latest of what are seen as provocative acts by KremlinTwo German Eurofighter jets were scrambled on Sunday to intercept a Russian military aircraft above the Baltic Sea, as Estonia said it would call an emergency meeting of the UN security council after Russian planes violated its airspace.Germany’s air force said the Russian Il-20M reconnaissance plane had switched off its transponders and ignored requests to make contact. The Eurofighters took off from the Rostock-Laage airbase to head off the aircraft as it flew in international airspace. Continue reading...

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