Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said the UK will confront Russian planes violating Nato’s airspace as she warned Moscow of risking "direct armed confrontation" with the Western alliance.
“We stand ready to take all steps necessary to defend Nato’s skies and Nato’s territory. We are vigilant. We are resolute. And if we need to confront planes that are operating in Nato airspace without permission then we will do so,” she said, addressing Vladimir Putin in her remarks at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
