New york: The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss Estonia's accusation that Russian fighter jets violated its airspace, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the session is scheduled for 5 pm local time (1400 GMT) in New York, marking the first time in Estonia's 34 years of UN membership that Tallinn has requested such a meeting. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that on September 19, three armed Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, thereby violating Estonia's territorial integrity and the principle of the UN Charter, which stipulates refraining from the threat of force.

Tsahkna emphasized that by violating Estonia's airspace, Russia is undermining principles essential for the security of the entire UN membership. He noted the importance of addressing such violations within the UN Security Council, particularly given Russia's status as a permanent member of the body. Russia, however, has denied the allegations.

According to Tsahkna, the incident is part of a broader pattern of regional provocations. He mentioned that the airspace violation was preceded by the entry of 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace and the presence of a Russian attack drone in Romanian airspace for one hour. Tsahkna asserted that these incidents contribute to escalating regional and global tensions, necessitating an international response.

Following the airspace violation, Estonia requested NATO Article 4 consultations. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed that the North Atlantic Council will convene early next week to review the matter. The UN Security Council comprises 15 members, including permanent members the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK.