NATO ambassadors are urging Russia to fly warplanes more safely over the Baltic Sea following "a series of unsafe intercepts".

The Western alliance claims dangerous pilot manoeuvres have been used during recent incidents, with one official saying "risk reduction remains a concern".

Russian pilots are being urged to file flight plans, respond to air traffic control or identify themselves with cockpit transmitters - known as transponders.

The issue is going to be raised at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels, yet the Kremlin says all Russian flights abide by international laws.

Wrangling in the Baltic Sea between Moscow and NATO is intensifying.


Image: One pilot of a Sukhoi Su-27 was recently accused of 'poor control'. File pic

In June, a Russian fighter jet was scrambled to intercept nuclear-capable American bombers which were allegedly flying over the Baltic Sea.

Also last month, NATO said it tracked three Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea - including two jets which did not respond to requests to identify themselves.

Moscow says that incident involved a NATO F-16 fighter jet buzzing a plane which was carrying Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

The NATO aircraft was then chased away by a Russian jet, according to a Moscow-based news agency.

Russia's envoy to NATO, Alexander Grushko, is set to make similar warnings to the alliance about unsafe manoeuvres at the same meeting.

The NATO-Russia Council is seen as a means to prevent tensions from escalating, even when joint exercises and peacekeeping have been suspended.