Why Has Eastern Europe Become A Cause For Concern Amid Russia's War Against Ukraine?

While Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine continues, fears about the threat to eastern Europe have suddenly spiked.

Vladimir Putin appears to be testing Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) by entering the airspaces of different eastern European countries.

On Friday, three Russian fighter jets had to be escorted out of Estonia’s airspace after spending 12 minutes in Nato territory – a moment which has European governments on edge.

Here’s what you need to know.

What happened?

Three Russian miG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace on Friday morning, reportedly with their transponders turned off and no two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control.

According to the local government, they entered “without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes” over the Gulf of Finland.

Italy, Finland and Sweden then scrambled jets as part of Nato’s mission to boost its eastern flank and escorted the aircrafts out.

Nato said the incident was “yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato’s ability to respond”.

But Russia’s defence ministry has denied such accusations, insisting that the planes were on a “scheduled flight... in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring”.

Russia claimed the jets flew over neutral Baltic waters, more than two miles from the nearest Estonian land.

Why is this significant?

Nato has been desperate to avoid being pulled into direct conflict with Russia, while continually providing military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.

US president Donald Trump has also tried to force Putin to agree to a peace deal, but Moscow has refused.

The nervousness around what these military jets were doing in Estonian airspace is also a sign of just how tensions with Russia are rising.

To make matters worse, it all comes after Poland and Romania, Nato members, already declared that unauthorised Russian drones had breached their airspace in recent weeks.

Attacks on Nato members could risk triggering the alliance’s Article 5 – meaning the mutual defence clause kicks in, and Nato members would have to retaliate against Russia.

Estonia has requested consultations with Nato members under Article 4 of its the alliance’s treaty – something Poland also requested on September 10 after Russian drones were spotted in its own airspace. 

Estonia, which shares a border with Russia, claimed this is the fifth airspace violation from Putin’s country this year, and has called for Nato’s reaction to be “united and strong”.

It’s widely believed Russia is trying to test Nato defences with these small-scale intrusions and undermine the alliance.

But Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal said the incident showed its war was not going to plan for Putin.

“The aim is to draw attention and assistance away from Ukraine by forcing Nato countries to focus more on the defence of their own territories,” he said.

What might happen next?

Michal called on further Nato discussions, explaining: “We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps.”

But Czech president Petr Pavel said Nato should shoot down any such planes in response, adding: “This is a balancing act bordering on the edge of conflict, but one simply cannot retreat in the face of evil.”

Even Trump, who up until recently has been soft on Putin, said on Friday: “I don’t love it. I don’t like when that happens. Could be big trouble.”

Yet the US has made it clear it does not want to deploy its own troops to Ukraine,.

In the meantime, planes from the UK, France, Germany and Denmark are all working together in air defence missions over Poland to help support the eastern flank.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said on Sunday: “The UK stands steadfast with our Baltic & all Nato allies. Russia’s violation of Nato airspace is unacceptable. We will continue to work with allies to ensure NATO is ready and able to defend its territory.”

But prime minister Keir Starmer is still facing calls to take further action.

The Liberal Democrats’ leader Ed Davey said: “It’s crystal clear that Putin’s imperial ambitions stretch beyond his barbarism in Ukraine.

“The Prime Minister must act – today – to show Putin we won’t roll over in the face of this aggression. That means seizing the £25bn of frozen Russian assets across the UK.

“He must also urgently send UK jets to support Nato’s Baltic Air Policing mission – ensuring Britain has a direct role to play in deterring future Russian violations.

“If we let Putin violate the sovereignty of Nato’s countries without consequence, it will only lead to more Russian aggression against the Baltics and Eastern Europe.”

And Labour chair of the defence committee, Tan Dhesi, called for unity within Nato, adding: “This brazen incursion into Nato territory is just the latest in a pattern of behaviour from Russia, designed to bully, intimidate and divide Nato countries.”