Trump claims he still hasn't been briefed about major Russian breach of Nato airspace

On Friday, three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace, ignoring signals from Italian pilots deployed under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission. The incident, which lasted 12 minutes, marks the latest attempt by Russia to test the boundaries of NATO member nations’ airspace.

A senior Estonian military official confirmed that the jets did not respond to warnings. While the Kremlin denies any breach, radar data from Estonia confirmed the violation. Officials suggested the maneuver could have been intended to divert Western attention from Ukraine.

When asked whether he had been informed about the breach, former President Donald Trump stated on Saturday, “No, I haven’t been briefed on it.”

This latest violation follows a series of provocations, including 20 Russian drones entering Polish airspace on September 10. Colonel Ants Kiviselg, commander of Estonia’s Military Intelligence Center, noted that while it still needs confirmation whether the incursion was deliberate, the Russian pilots “must have known that they are in Estonian airspace.”

During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict on his first day in office, but by late September, his efforts to broker peace remained limited. Critics have also questioned his handling of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces war crime accusations from the International Criminal Court.

Senator Dick Durbin highlighted the strategic nature of Russia’s repeated airspace violations, calling them a “calculated threat” and emphasizing the importance of NATO’s response to protect Poland and the Baltic states.

The Estonian military reported that the Russian MIG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland between 9:58 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. local time. Although the jets did not pose a direct military threat, they ignored communication attempts from Italian F-35 pilots, prolonging the incursion.

The aircraft originated from Petrozavodsk in northwestern Russia, heading toward Kaliningrad. Finnish fighter jets initially tracked the jets before Italian pilots escorted them back into international airspace.

Trump responded to the incursion by stating he would be briefed by aides, adding, “I don’t love it. I don’t like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I’ll let you know later.”