EU leaders to address 'collective response' to Russian violations of airspace at meeting on Oct. 1

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - European Council President Antonio Costa said Friday that EU leaders will address a “collective response” to Russia’s repeated airspace violations during an informal summit in Copenhagen on Oct. 1.

"We will address our collective response to Russia’s actions at the informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen on 1 October," Costa said on the US social media company X.

His remarks came after Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace near Vaindloo Island on Friday morning without permission, remaining for nearly 12 minutes.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires in Tallinn to protest what Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described as an “unprecedentedly brutal” violation.

Costa expressed solidarity with Estonia, calling the incident “another unacceptable provocation.”

It underscores the “urgent need to reinforce our Eastern flank, deepen European defence cooperation, and intensify pressure on Russia,” he said.