Tensions Escalate as Russian Jets Allegedly Violate Estonian Airspace Amid Intensified Ukraine Conflict:

In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Estonian officials have accused Russia of violating their airspace with three MiG-31 fighter jets flying over the Gulf of Finland for approximately 12 minutes on Friday. The incident, described by Estonia as an “unprecedented and brazen intrusion,” has prompted calls for urgent NATO discussions. Estonia's defence ministry stated that this marked the first such violation in over 20 years, raising alarm across Europe and within NATO. Officials reported that the Russian aircraft entered Estonian airspace from the northeast and did not respond to radio communication, leading to immediate NATO air policing measures. Russia Denies the Allegation Moscow swiftly denied the claims, with the Russian Defence Ministry asserting that its aircraft were flying over neutral international waters in the Baltic Sea. According to Russia, the jets were en route from northwestern Russia to the strategically sensitive exclave of Kaliningrad. This is not the first airspace controversy in recent days. Just a week earlier, over 20 Russian drones reportedly crossed into Polish territory, sparking immediate condemnation from NATO allies. NATO and European Leaders React Strongly NATO spokesperson Allison Hart slammed Russia’s actions as “reckless behaviour,” confirming that NATO jets were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. She emphasized that such incidents are destabilizing and increase the risk of unintended conflict. British Defence Secretary John Healey described the violation as the third breach of NATO airspace in recent days, calling it a "clear threat to European security." Similarly, France's Ministry of the Armed Forces called the airspace intrusion "unprecedented in more than two decades." U.S. President Donald Trump, responding to questions from reporters, said he had not yet been briefed but remarked, “I don’t like when that happens. It could be big trouble.” Ukraine-Russia War Continues to Escalate Meanwhile, tensions remain high on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces launched a wave of drone strikes on Russian territory, with attacks reportedly killing two civilians — a 55-year-old man in Kursk and a truck driver in Belgorod. Russian officials claim over 100 drones and 15 artillery munitions targeted the Belgorod region in just 24 hours. In retaliation, Russia launched a massive overnight drone offensive on Ukraine, firing nearly 90 drones at key regions including Donetsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Dnipro. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that most of the drones were intercepted, but two civilians were injured in the Dnipro region. Zelenskyy also noted a tragic incident involving a group of Ukrainian journalists and their driver, who were injured after triggering a landmine near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Additionally, Russian forces reportedly seized control of two more Ukrainian villages — Muravka in Donetsk and Novoivanovka in Zaporizhia — according to Russian state media TASS. New EU Sanctions Target Russian LNG Exports In response to the ongoing aggression, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a 19th package of sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s war economy. The new measures are expected to curb Russia’s lucrative liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, an important source of funding for its military operations. President Zelenskyy welcomed the sanctions, calling them “an important step” that will “increase pressure on the Russian war machine and produce a tangible effect.” U.S.-China Talks Include Ukraine War In a notable development, President Trump revealed that he recently held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Ukraine war. “I believe he would like to see it ended,” Trump said, hinting at possible international pressure on Russia from its key ally.

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