Confronting Russia at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia. Our alliance is defensive but be under no illusion we stand ready to defend NATO's skies and NATO's territory." Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement"If we need to confront planes operating in NATO space without permission then we will do so," she said. The Security Council convened on Monday to discuss the issue. Cooper's comments were echoed by other Western ministers in the Security Council, who suggested the multiple incidents could not be considered an accident.