Putin's fighter jets

Von der Leyen wants to defend “every inch”

Europe is currently closing "capability gaps", said von der Leyen.(Bild: AP/AFP/Forsvarsmakten/Krone KREATIV)

The serious airspace violations by the Russian army have put Europe on alert. While more and more voices are calling for Vladimir Putin's fighter jets and drones to be shot down, EU President Ursula von der Leyen is also getting carried away with pithy remarks.

Following Russia's repeated airspace violations, the Commission President is calling for greater European autonomy in security matters. "The incidents, especially the one in Poland, are extremely serious. And while NATO must remain at the heart of our collective defense, we also need a much stronger European pillar. Europe must become more autonomous and independent in security matters," said von der Leyen.

In a written interview with the newspaper cooperation "Leading European Newspaper Alliance" ("Lena"), the EU Commission President emphasized that the EU has an agenda to strengthen its defence capabilities with "Readiness 2030".

"We are closing our capability gaps. We are speeding up procedures. We are mobilizing up to EUR 800 billion for defence. We will protect every inch of Europe's borders," the EU leader declared broadly. The EU heads of state and government also want to discuss a "collective response" to the violation of European airspace by Russia at their meeting in Copenhagen on October 1. 

Europe is currently closing "capability gaps", said von der Leyen.(Bild: AP/AFP/Forsvarsmakten/Krone KREATIV)

However, many eyes are on the United Nations Security Council. Estonia has called an emergency meeting for Monday. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated on Sunday that the airspace violation was "part of a broader escalation by Russia at both regional and global level". The Russian behavior required "an international response".

What should the response to Russian jets look like?
It is not clear what form this should take. More and more voices are calling for Russian intruders to be shot down. The German Christian Democrats in particular are advocating a forceful response.

"The Kremlin needs a clear stop sign," said Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "Only a clear message to Russia that every military border violation will be answered with military means, including the shooting down of Russian fighter jets over NATO territory, will have an effect," said Hardt.

The CDU politician emphasized: "These provocations and tests by Russia will only end if we respond clearly to all military border violations." Only then will Putin get what he is looking for: his answer to the question of how far the Europeans will let him go.

Then Russian soldiers will come.

CDU-Politiker Jürgen Hardt

"The alternative would be for the Russian war logic to continue to ignite. Now it's airspace violations, soon it will be firing on individual targets, then Russian soldiers will arrive." Military observers see an enormous need to catch up, especially in European drone defense.

According to Estonian reports, three Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace near the island of Vaindloo over the Gulf of Finland on Friday and remained there for a total of twelve minutes. According to the alliance, F-35 fighter jets from the Italian air force involved in NATO airspace surveillance over Estonia intercepted the aircraft.