President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace. He made the comments while meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
When asked if the U.S. would support NATO allies in such cases, Trump said it “depends on the circumstance.” Earlier this month, Russian planes reportedly violated the airspace of Poland, Romania, and Estonia, prompting NATO to scramble fighter jets. Russia has denied some of these claims.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski reacted quickly on X, writing, “Roger that.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the group’s commitment to defend allies but said real-time decisions on engaging intruding aircraft depend on intelligence about the threat.
Trump also criticized Russia for its war in Ukraine. He urged European countries to reduce their purchases of Russian oil and gas and said the U.S. may impose harsh tariffs on Moscow. Zelenskyy expressed support for Trump’s stance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe aims to stop using Russian energy by 2027 or earlier. Trump believes targeting Russia’s economy will help Ukraine reclaim its territory.
