When asked by reporters if he believed NATO should take action against Russian aircraft crossing their airspace, Donald Trump responded affirmatively. “Yes, I do,” Trump said on Tuesday, asserting that NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft entering their airspace. He made these remarks while speaking to reporters after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the meeting, when asked about NATO shoot-downs, Trump reiterated, “Yes, I do.”
In response, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte adopted a more measured stance. According to a report by US broadcaster CNN, Rutte emphasized that shoot-down decisions should depend on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft. He noted, “This also includes questions we have to answer like intent, armaments and potential risk to allies, forces, civilians or infrastructure. We will always assess the situation, assess the immediate threat the plane poses.”
These comments came shortly after the first direct encounters between NATO and Moscow since the start of the Ukraine war. Alleged incursions of Russian aircraft over Poland, Estonia, and other NATO countries have recently tested the alliance’s preparedness and credibility in deterring Russia. For instance, Russian jets reportedly violated Estonian airspace, prompting Tallinn to call for an urgent meeting.
Meanwhile, Trump suggested that Ukraine has the potential to reclaim more than just the territory it has lost to Russia since the war began in February 2022. In a Truth Social post following his meeting with Zelenskyy at the United Nations, Trump wrote:
“I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”
He added that Kyiv could possibly go even further, although he did not provide specifics on what he meant by that statement.
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