Sweden scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian bomber which entered Nato airspace – hours before world leaders gathered for a historic peace conference over Ukraine

Swedish fighter jets were turned away after a Russian bomber entered NATO airspace hours before world leaders gathered for a historic peace conference on Ukraine.

A Russian SU-24 aircraft invaded Swedish airspace over the strategic Baltic island of Gotland on Friday, three months after the country joined NATO.

The Swedish Air Force first warned the Russian pilot by radio, but the bomber did not deviate from its course.

Two JAS-39 Gripen fighters were then scrambled, forcing the aircraft to turn around, the Swedish Air Force said.

The breach was condemned by Swedish leaders as security experts said it could lead to a sudden escalation between the two countries Russia and NATO.

Two JAS-39 Gripen fighters were scrambled on Friday after a Russian bomber entered NATO airspace, hours before world leaders gathered for a historic peace conference over Ukraine (file photo)

A Russian SU-24 aircraft invaded Swedish airspace over the strategic Baltic island of Gotland on Friday, prompting the Swedish Air Force to deploy its fighter jets (file photo)

Analysts say the incident indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘does not want nuclear war, but wants to threaten NATO’

“This Russian behavior is not acceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity,” said Jonas Wikman, chief of the air force.

Professor Anthony Glees, a former security expert at Brunel University, said: ‘This is seriously dangerous.

‘Putin does not want nuclear war, but he does want to threaten NATO. But things can easily go wrong.

“One mistake on his part and NATO will respond in kind.”

Friday’s incident came a day after G7 leaders in Italy agreed a £40 billion loan to Ukraine over ten years, funded by the windfall interest rates Western governments made by freezing £219 billion of Russian assets since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.

On Saturday, world leaders from at least 90 countries met near the Swiss city of Lucerne to discuss how to bring lasting peace to Ukraine.

They included US Vice President Kamala Harris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Rishi Sunak also flew to Lucerne immediately after attending Trooping the Color in Whitehall with the King.

In addition to the £40 billion loan, Ms Harris has unveiled a further £1 billion to help Ukraine rebuild its power stations and provide food to refugees.

Rishi Sunak was among world leaders from at least 90 countries who met near the Swiss city of Lucerne to discuss how to bring lasting peace to Ukraine. Pictured: Sunak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

But Russia was not allowed to attend and China did not send a representative, dismissing the summit as ‘pointless’.

Beijing had said that such a meeting should involve Russia in addition to Ukraine.

Last week it was reported that Zelensky had urged the Chinese to attend, saying Russia’s support for Russia has meant that Western efforts to isolate Putin’s regime have failed.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker, said: “That’s a negative. It appears that China has decided to support its borderless strategic partner, Russia, and not the peace process: the aggressor, not peace.”

President Zelensky opened the conference by saying: “We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.”

In an effort to anticipate the summit, Putin offered a peace plan on Friday in which Ukraine would give up at least five regions to Russia and abandon plans to join NATO.

But President Zelensky flatly rejected the offer on Saturday.