Russia’s Foreign Ministry dismisses Bloomberg report as “invention”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on September 26 rejected a Bloomberg report that European diplomats privately warned Moscow they were prepared to shoot down Russian aircraft if they violated allied airspace, calling the story a fabrication and accusing the outlet of promoting “Russophobic” rhetoric.

Zakharova told reporters she had seen the Bloomberg article but “did not understand what it was about,” adding that it looked like “yet another invention by this particular Western agency.” She said the report — which Bloomberg said was based on diplomats’ private warnings delivered to Russian officials during a “tense meeting in Moscow” — could not be meaningfully commented on without clarity about the alleged meeting, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Bloomberg’s story said European diplomats had privately warned the Kremlin that NATO was prepared to respond “with full force,” including shooting down violators, if Russian aircraft continued to breach allied airspace. The report framed those warnings as having been conveyed to Russian officials during contacts in Moscow. 

Western officials and NATO representatives have recently reiterated that alliance members have the right to protect their airspace and take defensive action where necessary — comments that have at times included firm language about intercepting or, in extreme cases, downing aircraft that pose a clear threat. Reuters and other outlets have reported on senior NATO figures stressing that member states must be able to defend their skies.

Zakharova characterised the Bloomberg item as part of an effort to amplify what she called an “absolutely Russophobic, aggressive, abnormal rhetoric” in Western capitals and said such stories were being used to give greater resonance to statements by EU officials advocating militarisation. Russian state media and pro-Kremlin outlets promptly echoed her criticism.

By Vugar Khalilov