Mike Waltz, the newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Monday called on Russia to “urgently stop” violating NATO countries’ airspaces and pushed for de-escalation in the region.
In remarks at his first U.N. Security Council briefing, Waltz condemned the Russian fighter jets’ intrusion into Estonian airspace on Friday, just more than a week after Russian drones breached Polish airspace.
“As we said nine days ago, the United States stands by our NATO allies in the face of these airspace violations. And I want to take this first opportunity to repeat, and to emphasize, the United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory,” Waltz said in his remarks.
“Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behavior,” he continued.
The incursions come as the Trump administration has sought to negotiate a diplomatic end to Russia’s war with Ukraine. President Trump has encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but progress has stalled since Trump huddled separately in back-to-back meetings with the leaders last month.
Waltz, who previously served as Trump’s national security adviser, highlighted Trump’s diplomatic efforts in his remarks on Monday, saying the U.S. expects Russia to try to de-escalate.
“At a time when President Trump and the United States has been focused, and spent an enormous amount of time and effort to end this horrific war between Russia and Ukraine, we expect Russia to seek ways to de-escalate — not risk expansion,” Waltz said.
“This event, following on the heels of the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, creates the impression that Russia either wants to escalate and pull more countries into this conflict with Ukraine, or doesn’t have full control of those who operate its fighter planes and drones,” he continued. “Either scenario is very disconcerting, given that Russia is obviously a nuclear power with global reach.”
“And so, I once again urge Russia, as a permanent member of this council, to uphold international peace and security, to respect the sovereignty of its neighbors, to cease violating their airspace. And I call on Russia to negotiate directly with Ukraine to end that war,” Waltz added.
Three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace for 12 minutes on Friday in what the country’s prime minister, Kristen Michal, called an “unprecedented and brazen intrusion.”
Michal requested NATO Article 4 consultations. Article 4 allows NATO members to bring any issue threatening that country’s territorial integrity or political independence or security to other NATO members.
The incursion into Estonia followed a high-profile violation of Poland’s airspace the previous week, which also triggered NATO air defenses. Poland also invoked the alliance’s Article 4 pillar, convening NATO members for consultation over threats to a member.
At least 19 Russian drones crossed over into Polish airspace Sept. 9, amid a major Russian aerial assault against Ukraine.
Trump said the incursion into Poland may have been a mistake by Russia, prompting public pushback from Polish leaders, who insist it was intentional.
