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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFinland’s Fighter Jets on Alert as Russia Violates Airspace
By Kati Pohjanpalo and Kasper Viita Aug 29, 2014 8:46 AM ET
Finlands government said its fighter jets were ready to intercept foreign aircraft after Russian planes repeatedly violated the northernmost euro members airspace.
A Russian Antonov AN 72 transport plane crossed the Finnish border yesterday at about 12:08 p.m. local time near Porvoo on the Gulf of Finland, identified by Finlands F/A-18 Hornet jet, the government in Helsinki said. Russian state aircraft are also suspected of two other airspace violations on on the south coast since Aug. 23.
It shouldnt be a surprise to anyone that they dont respect borders, Charly Salonius-Pasternak, senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said by phone. At a minimum, the Russian air force is acting carelessly and that they do so is more and more serious, taking into account the general international and European security situation.
The Finnish government views the incursions as extremely unfortunate incidents that must be taken very seriously, Defense Minister Carl Haglund told reporters in Helsinki yesterday. Three airspace violations within a week is a lot and unfortunately they dont really have a good explanation. What we know is they are done somewhat on purpose. We dont know what that purpose is.
Finland, which has the European Unions longest border with Russia, has condemned its eastern neighbors incursion into Ukraine, calling the annexation of Crimea and subsequent displays of military aggression illegal. The comments underscore how deeply Europes relationship with President Vladimir Putin has soured, even for nations with close economic ties like Finland.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-28/finland-puts-fighter-planes-on-alert-as-russia-violates-airspace.html
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)and counting on Europe to not stop him.
which they can't, short of war provocation.
Wonder if he will come down with accidental case of plutonium poisoning?
IronGate
(2,186 posts)which he may very well do if he keeps this shit up.