President Donald Trump said Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian planes if they enter their airspace.
The remarks came as Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
When asked if the United States would support NATO allies in such a situation, Trump said, “It depends on the circumstance.”
Earlier this month, Poland and Romania reported violations of their airspace by Russian aircraft, prompting NATO fighter jets to respond. Estonia said on Friday that three Russian jets had entered its airspace, which Russia denied.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, who had previously criticized Trump’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin during peace talks, reacted quickly to Trump’s suggestion that NATO allies shoot down Russian drones in their airspace.
“Roger that,” Sikorski posted on X.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the group’s commitment to defending allied territory on Tuesday, but he did not say any Russian aircraft that violated allied airspace would be shot down.
“Decisions on whether to engage intruding aircraft, such as firing upon them, are, of course, taking in real time, are always based on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft, including questions we have to answer like intent, armament and potential risk to Allied forces, civilians or infrastructure,” according to Rutte.
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump chastised Russia for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“It doesn’t make Russia look good. “It makes them look bad,” Trump said.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose severe tariffs on Russia if Moscow does not agree to a peace deal.
However, he stated that other countries should reduce their purchases of Russian oil and energy products, “otherwise we’re all wasting a lot of time.”
“Europe needs to step it up. They can’t be doing this. They are purchasing oil and gas from Russia while fighting Russia. “It’s embarrassing for them,” Trump stated.
When Ukraine’s Zelenskyy met with Trump later Tuesday, he expressed support for the idea.
During a bilateral meeting with Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that she wants Europe to stop using Russian energy by 2027 or earlier.
“President Trump is absolutely right on it,” she informed us. “We have already massively reduced the gas supply from Russia, completely eliminated Russian coal, and massively reduced the oil supply. However, some continue to travel to Europe.
“We want to get rid of it,” she explained.
Trump stated that he believed targeting Russia’s economy would contribute to the end of the war.
“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine-Russia military and economic situation, and after seeing the economic trouble it is causing Russia, I believe Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” Trump wrote on his social media platform following his bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy. “Ukraine would be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!” he stated.”
