“In these times, we must act firmly, and if violations occur, we must respond accordingly, including militarily. Russia will very quickly realize it has made a mistake and overstepped its bounds. Unfortunately, this is balancing on the brink of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply impossible,” Pavel said in an interview with public broadcaster Czech Television.

“What happened in recent days in Poland and Estonia, and what has been happening in Ukraine for four years, concerns us all, because if we don’t remain united, sooner or later it will happen to us too,” he added.

Moscow violated Polish airspace on Sept. 10, prompting Warsaw to shoot down Russian drones over its territory in a first for any NATO member in over three years of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

Russian drones again violated EU and NATO airspace, flying over Romanian territory on Sept. 13 amid a mass aerial attack on Ukraine. Most recently, three Russian jets violated Estonian airspace on Sept. 19 as Moscow continues its provocations.

“This is a significant escalation to European security, for which Russia clearly bears responsibility. I must say that this is just the latest example of Russia’s actions, which have long been behaving in this manner,” Pavel said.

Pavel noted that in the past, Turkey shot down a Russian jet in response to repeated violations of its airspace by Moscow.

“We are now witnessing the same thing: Russia is not only waging an aggressive war against a sovereign state, but is also provoking NATO countries in an unprecedented manner, seeking not only to provoke a response that it can then use for its own interests, but also to test our resolve and ability to defend ourselves,” he added.

Pavel condemned Russia’s airspace violations and called for decisive action so that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin “will behave the way we allow them to,” adding that if Europe only responds “verbally,” provocations will continue.

“This is completely irresponsible behavior, since violating airspace is a pretext for activating defense mechanisms, namely, shooting down such an aircraft. And, of course, no one on our side or the Russian side would want that,” he stated.

In response to the Russian escalation, the Baltic nation has requested NATO Article 4 consultations. The measure allows member states to hold discussions with allies if their security is threatened.

The statement follows recent escalations of Russian provocations in NATO airspace.

“We saw on Friday that NATO is functioning very efficiently… even to the point that if we were truly forced to use the last resort, which is the use of force, then there was a readiness for that as well,” he said.

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Sept. 19, remaining there for 12 minutes before departing.

Tallinn announced that the warplanes crossed without permission, while Moscow denied any violation.

Following the incursion, Estonia requested consultations under NATO’s Article 4, which allows members to convene allies if they consider their security threatened.

Pevkur stated that Russia’s provocations were aimed at shifting Western focus away from Ukraine.

“This is exactly what Russia wants — to divert our attention away from helping Ukraine, and to focus on our own backyard,” he continued, adding, “That is a key goal behind these kinds of provocations.”

The violations occurred amid rising tensions across NATO’s eastern flank.

On the same day Russian jets violated Estonian airspace, Poland reported that Russian fighter jets had entered the security zone surrounding a Baltic Sea drilling platform.

On Sept. 10, Poland shot down Russian drones that had entered its airspace during an attack on Ukraine, marking the first direct NATO engagement against Russian military assets over alliance territory.

Warsaw responded by placing air defenses on high alert, temporarily closing its main airports, and requesting Article 4 consultations with NATO.

Romania reported a similar breach on Sept. 13, scrambling two F-16s after detecting a Russian drone crossing into its airspace during an attack on Ukrainian border infrastructure.

Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said the country did not shoot down a Russian drone that entered Romanian airspace, as it eventually turned back to bomb Ukraine.

After the incidents, the alliance has launched its defensive Eastern Sentry mission.

President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier stressed that Russia’s goal is to weaken NATO’s resolve to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems.