President Donald Trump said that NATO countries should shoot down Russian planes that violate their airspace and show more sympathy for the possibility of Ukraine winning the war.
The recent incident of Ukrainian fighter jets crossing the border has raised concerns among allies. He made the above remarks during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On Tuesday, during a meeting held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, when Trump was directly asked by a reporter whether NATO allies should shoot down Russian aircraft, he replied, “Yes, I agree.”
Trump later posted on social media that he believes Ukraine, with the support of the EU, not only has the ability to fight back but also to recapture all the territory occupied since Russia’s invasion in 2022, and even more.
“Putin and Russia are facing huge economic difficulties. It’s time for Ukraine to take action. Anyway, I wish both countries all the best. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO and let NATO do as it pleases. Good luck to everyone!” Trump said.
This conversation reflects Trump’s recent policy of supporting Ukraine, although he has constantly emphasized his hope that Europe will play a greater role in pressuring Russia. This has left allies unsure to what extent the United States is committed to assisting Kiev and punishing the Kremlin, while these allies face political and economic obstacles in imposing additional tariffs and sanctions on Moscow and its partners.
On Tuesday, Trump refused to disclose whether the US would support NATO if NATO and Russian aircraft engaged in combat in US airspace. He said it “depends on the specific circumstances,” but “our attitude towards NATO is very tough.”
But in his social media post, he criticized Russia for “waging a war aimlessly for three and a half years, while a true military power should have won this war in less than a week.”
Trump said, “I believe that with the support of the EU, Ukraine has the ability to overcome everything and eventually restore its original appearance.” Zelensky said that this post is of great significance and described it as having a positive meaning.
A few hours before Trump made the above remarks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the remarks of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that Poland was prepared to shoot down foreign aircraft that entered its territory.
Rubio told CBS News earlier Tuesday that he doesn’t think anyone would talk about shooting down a Russian aircraft “unless they were attacking.”
A series of incidents involving Russian aircraft violating the airspace of NATO allies have raised concerns on the alliance’s eastern flank. Meanwhile, European partners are urging Trump to take tougher action against Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
Earlier this month, NATO forces shot down a Russian drone that entered Polish airspace. Last week, a Russian fighter jet also flew into Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, further disrupting the order of the United States’ allies.
Latvian President Egils Levits on Tuesday called on NATO to “show force” in response to Russia’s invasion. “I think the rules of engagement also need to be upgraded. If Russia continues its invasion, firing back will be an alternative,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
Earlier on Tuesday, NATO issued a statement, vowing a “strong” response to Russia’s invasion and saying it would take all measures, including military action, to defend itself. The Russian Defense Ministry denied that its fighter jets had entered Estonian airspace.
