Russia Confronts The West At UN Amid Increased Tensions With NATO Members; Bloc Ups Presence In Baltic
In the wake of recent drone incursions involving Danish airspace, NATO allies have begun shoring up surveillance and rapid response capabilities in the Baltic region. Image courtesy: RNA
Amid amplifying tensions between Russian and NATO members over the former’s increased provocations, Moscow has made an appeal on the global stage. Russia on Saturday (September 27, 2025) used the global stage to justify its posture while NATO countries move rapidly to reinforce their Baltic and air defence positions.
As tensions escalate across Eastern Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned what he called “Western interference” and accused NATO nations of prolonging regional instability. He made the remarks while addressing the UN General Assembly.
Lavrov’s comments come at a time when the tensions between Moscow and NATO members are flaring up as Poland, Estonia, Romania, among other report airspace breaches by Russian drones and aircraft. A combination of drone incursions, airspace closures and renewed diplomatic hostilities has sharpened the continent’s security crisis.
What did Russia say at the UN General Assembly?
The country’s foreign minister insisted that Moscow would not bow to international pressure or sanctions, and portrayed Russia as a victim of Western encirclement. Lavrov further warned against what he described as the weaponisation of the UN system and signalled that Russia would deepen its strategic partnerships outside the Western bloc.
His remarks reinforced Moscow’s narrative that its actions, including military measures near NATO borders, are defensive responses to Western provocation.
Though they left without a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, Lavrov said Moscow had “some hopes” to keep talking with Washington, and he suggested his country sees US President Donald Trump’s administration as a practical-minded counterpart. Trump had met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in August 2025.
Why is NATO increasing its presence in the Baltics?
In the wake of recent drone incursions involving Danish airspace, NATO allies have begun shoring up surveillance and rapid response capabilities in the Baltic region. Although Copenhagen has not publicly attributed the drone activity to Russia, officials across the alliance view the incidents as a test of NATO’s air defence and intelligence posture.
As part of the build-up, alliance members are deploying additional reconnaissance assets, bolstering forward troop placements and enhancing coordination among Baltic and Nordic partners, reflecting NATO’s shift toward heightened deterrence along its northeastern corridor.
How has Poland responded to Russian military activity?
Poland has temporarily closed parts of its airspace following reported Russian missile strikes in the region. The closure, driven by concerns over possible spillover or miscalculation, comes as Warsaw amplifies calls for stronger NATO action.
Simultaneously, the alliance has stepped up Baltic security measures aimed at preventing Russian aircraft or drones from approaching allied territory. The measures underscore the widening gap between Moscow’s rhetoric at the UN and its concurrent military manoeuvres around NATO’s borders.
NATO on Saturday announced that it is upgrading its mission in the Baltic Sea with an air defence frigate and other assets, including “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms”.
