Ukraine news latest — NATO jets sent to intercept Russian aircraft as fears of war escalation grow after downed US drone

THE RAF and German air force carried out their first joint Nato air policing scramble as pilots carried out a routine interception of a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace. The response on Tuesday saw the pair of British and German Typhoon jets react to a Russian air-to-air refuelling aircraft, after it failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. British pilots are currently conducting joint air policing missions in the country alongside the German air force for the first time. It comes as the UK prepares take over from Germany to lead the Nato mission in Estonia, which borders Russia. The Ministry of Defence stressed the “routine” nature of the mission, but it comes amid tensions between the West and Russia over the invasion of Ukraine – and the downing of a US drone by Russian aircraft yesterday. Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…