ISTANBUL 

Russia’s recent violations of European airspace underlie its "insistence on staying on a path of war," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Tuesday.

"Russia has shown no interest whatsoever in a first step on the path to peace. Russia's leaders clearly mean to prolong and escalate the war. Russia's repeated violations of European sovereign airspace with aircraft and drones (are) underlying Russia's insistence on staying on a path of war," Rasmussen said during a UN Security Council meeting in New York.

Describing the violations as "reckless," he noted that such acts threated the security of European citizens along with international peace.

"For peace to have any chance in Ukraine, the very first step must clearly be for the weapons to fall silent," Rasmussen underscored.

He further urged the international community to increase pressure on Russia through additional sanctions and measures against its shadow fleet.

"This is the only way Russia might engage in the peace talks in good faith," he added.