Tolerating Russia's airspace breaches risks escalation elsewhere - Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis warned that tolerating Russia's airspace violations on NATO's eastern flank could embolden Moscow to act the same way at other borders.

"Russia's latest provocations and escalation show that it flouts international law. The international community must recognize this as extremely dangerous behavior in clear violation of international norms. If we allow it at this border, Russia will do the same at others," Budrys said in New York on Monday.

"Other aggressive states will act the same way. Those that can take advantage of what is called the untouchability of a nuclear power. That is something we must prevent," he added.

Budrys spoke after Monday's UN Security Council meeting on the growing number of airspace violations on NATO's eastern flank.

NATO ambassadors will hold talks on Tuesday over the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, after Tallinn called urgent consultations under Article 4 of the Alliance's founding treaty.

NATO scrambled its jets after three Russian MiG-31 fighters breached Estonian airspace for some 12 minutes on Friday.

Budrys said he hoped Tuesday's meeting would produce results "that will not leave all of us embarrassed."

"Right now, simply considering and discussing is not enough to stop Russia," he said.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned Russia at the UN General Assembly on Monday that any aircraft or missile entering his country's airspace would be shot down.

Budrys said Lithuania and other countries want NATO to spell out how it responds to drones and fighter jets crossing their borders.

"Our interest is for this to become the norm in NATO, embedded in its mandate. And for Russia to receive a clear message that this is not just rhetoric but involves specific capabilities, specific weapons, and specific damage in response," the Lithuanian foreign minister said.

"To avoid escalation, you have to make clear to the adversary how you will treat one or another situation. That is why Russia must be told that such airspace violations come close to a military conflict, and it is in its own interest to avoid one," he added.

In the wake of repeated eastern flank airspace violations, the Alliance announced the launch of the Eastern Sentry mission to reinforce regional defenses.