Bloomberg: Western diplomats warn Kremlin NATO could shoot down Russian jets

European diplomats have warned the Kremlin that NATO will no longer tolerate Russian provocations in allied airspace and is prepared to shoot down violating aircraft, Bloomberg reported, citing informed sources.

According to the publication, British, French and German envoys delivered the warning during a tense meeting in Moscow this week. The talks followed the incursion of three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets into Estonian airspace last week.

Unnamed officials told Bloomberg that they believe the airspace violation was deliberate and carried out under orders from Moscow. During the meeting, a Russian diplomat reportedly responded that the incursion was a reaction to Ukrainian strikes on occupied Crimea — attacks the Kremlin insists would not have been possible without NATO support.

The officials also noted that Russian representatives carefully documented the European envoys’ remarks, which they interpreted as an indication that Moscow had instructed them to provide a detailed account of NATO’s position.

By Vugar Khalilov