Trump urges NATO to shoot down Russian planes violating airspace

Post by : Meena Rani

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian planes that violate their airspace, as he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of a UN summit.

"Yes, I do," Trump replied when asked whether NATO nations should take military action against Russian aircraft entering their territory.

His remarks follow recent incursions by Russian fighter jets and drones, which have heightened concerns among Washington’s NATO allies in Europe.
Trump, however, avoided directly answering whether he still trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin or believes the Kremlin is ready for peace. "I'll let you know in about a month from now, okay?" he said when pressed on his stance toward Putin.

The 79-year-old Republican has a history of giving short deadlines—often two weeks—for decisions on measures such as imposing new sanctions on Russia.
During the meeting, Trump praised Ukraine’s resilience, saying he had "great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up. It's pretty amazing, actually." Zelensky reciprocated by thanking Trump for his "personal efforts to stop this war" and urged European nations to halt Russian oil imports.

Tensions have intensified between Russia and Europe amid repeated airspace violations. NATO scrambled jets after three Russian MiG-31 fighters briefly entered Estonian airspace on Friday, prompting Estonia to call for a UN Security Council meeting and consultations with NATO allies.

Earlier this month, Poland reported multiple incursions by Russian drones during attacks on Ukraine, describing them as acts of aggression. Trump had previously suggested the Polish incidents might have been accidental, but his latest comments signal a tougher stance.

As Europe navigates rising security challenges, Trump’s remarks indicate support for a more assertive NATO posture in response to Russian provocations, while maintaining cautious ambiguity on his personal view of Putin’s intentions.

Russian planes, Airspace violation, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine conflict