European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia’s public threats against the Baltic states Wednesday, saying any threat against one European Union member state is a threat against the entire bloc.
“Russia’s public threats against our Baltic States are completely unacceptable,” von der Leyen wrote on X. “Let there be no doubt. A threat against one Member State is a threat against our entire Union.”
Her statement came after Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, accused Ukraine of preparing to launch drone attacks from Latvia and other Baltic territory, allegations Latvia and Ukraine rejected. Reuters reported that Nebenzya warned NATO membership would not protect countries Moscow accused of helping Ukraine carry out attacks.
Latvia rejected the accusations as false. Latvia’s U.N. envoy, Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes, called the claims “pure fiction,” while Latvia’s foreign ministry summoned the acting head of Russia’s mission to protest what it described as false and provocative accusations, Reuters reported.
Ukraine also denied using Baltic territory for drone operations. Ukraine’s U.N. envoy, Andriy Melnyk, dismissed Russia’s allegations as “fairy tales,” according to Reuters.
Nebenzya also said the Ukraine negotiation process was at “a dead end” and claimed Moscow saw no readiness from Kyiv to move substantively toward a settlement. The Guardian reported that he said Russia would continue pursuing its military objectives unless Ukraine met Moscow’s conditions, including withdrawal from territories Russia claims as its own.
Nebenzya also mocked discussion of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas potentially serving as a mediator in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, saying the idea “can only be called a mockery,” The Guardian reported.
Von der Leyen also accused Russia and Belarus of bearing “direct responsibility” for drones endangering people on Europe’s eastern flank. She said Europe would continue reinforcing security across the region through collective defense and preparedness.
The tensions followed a drone incident over Estonia. The Guardian reported that a NATO fighter jet shot down a Ukrainian drone after officials blamed Russian electronic jamming for diverting it into Estonian airspace. Ukraine expressed regret over the incident and said it does not use Baltic airspace for attacks.
The United States also criticized Moscow’s warning. Reuters reported that U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense obligations under Article 5.
The dispute has added to pressure along NATO’s eastern flank, where Baltic officials have repeatedly accused Russia of using threats and disinformation to intimidate countries supporting Ukraine.
“Europe will respond with unity and strength,” von der Leyen said. “We will continue reinforcing the security of our Eastern flank with strong collective defence and preparedness at every level.”
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