UNGA80: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas on Russia’s Violation of Estonian Airspace

UNGA80: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas on Russia's Violation of Estonian Airspace

Mister President,

Excellencies,

The United Nations was founded on a set of shared values and principles, foremost among them the pursuit of peace and security.

Although these values are being continuously being tested and tried, the adherence to these values is still what brings us together in this room.

There is one country present here in this room, which is actively seeking to undermine the values and principles that the nations of the United Nations have committed to upholding.

Last week, Russia once again violated international law and the sovereignty of a European country.

For twelve minutes, three armed Russian fighter jets aircraft blatantly violated Estonian airspace; the same type of fighter jets that regularly bomb innocent civilians in Kyiv.

The recent violation of Estonian airspace is unprecedented in both scale and recklessness. It was a deliberate provocation which could have ended with devastating results. This comes after Russian violations of Polish and Romanian airspace with drones a week earlier.

It cannot be that Russia 'accidently' violates three times in two weeks European air space.

And if it was accidental, it was a mistake, there have been plenty of time for the Russian Federation to apologise and say sorry, we made a mistake.

Instead, we see a pattern: Russia is testing European borders, probing our resolve, undermining the security of the whole of Europe. Russia will continue to provoke as long as we allow it.

Therefore, the United Nations and the international community must clearly condemn such actions. It is a breach of the UN Charter, which obliges all states to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. And it is particularly cynical that a permanent member of the UN Security Council - entrusted with safeguarding peace - actively seeks to undermine it.

Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues, and now it is extending provocations against European Union Member States. Russia hopes that this might force us to draw our focus away from supporting Ukraine and focus solely on our own security. Well let me be very clear - European security starts with Ukraine and any provocation against EU Member States will only strengthen our resolve to support Ukraine.

I say this openly to the Russian representative in this room: your government's actions are reckless, dangerous, and go against the very principles of the United Nations.

Our response is united and firm. First, we stand in full solidarity with Estonia, Poland and Romania. Second, we collectively condemn Russia's sovereignty violations. Third, the European Union will continue to help to strengthen European defence and deterrence, together with NATO. Fourth, for every test or violation of our security, our resolve to support Ukraine grows.

Russia cannot be allowed to normalise such behaviour. International law is not optional. The sovereignty and security of one Member State is the sovereignty and security of all.

I call on you to condemn Russia's violation of Estonia's air space

Thank you.