Trump urges NATO to shoot down Russian planes entering airspace
President Donald Trump stated that NATO nations ought to shoot down Russian aircraft that infringe upon their airspace, while adopting a more empathetic stance regarding Ukraine’s prospects in the conflict. He addressed the situation during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in light of recent jet incursions that have raised concerns among allies. “Yes, I do,” Trump stated when directly questioned by a reporter about whether NATO allies should engage Russian aircraft during his meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. In a later social media post, Trump expressed his belief that Ukraine, bolstered by the support of the European Union, was not only capable of fighting back but also poised to reclaim all the territory lost to Russia since its invasion in 2022 — and possibly even more.
“Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act.” In any event, I extend my best wishes to both countries. We will persist in providing weapons to NATO, allowing them to utilize them as they see fit. “Good luck to all!” Trump stated. The exchange reflected Trump’s recent stance of expressing support for Ukraine, while simultaneously underscoring his desire for Europe to assume a more significant role in efforts to exert pressure on Russia. Allies are left uncertain about the extent of the US’s commitment to supporting Kyiv and penalizing the Kremlin, given the political and economic barriers they face in imposing further tariffs and sanctions on Moscow and its partners. On Tuesday, Trump refrained from stating whether the US would back NATO in the event of Russian planes entering its airspace, noting that it “depends on the circumstance” while asserting that “we’re very strong toward NATO.” In his social media post, he expressed criticism towards Russia for “fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win.”
“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,” Trump stated. Zelenskyy remarked that the post represented a significant change and characterized it as favorable. Trump’s remarks followed closely on the heels of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s rebuttal to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s claim that Poland was ready to shoot down foreign aircraft entering its airspace. Rubio stated, “I did not think anyone was talking about shooting down Russian jets unless they’re attacking,” in remarks. The series of incidents involving Russian aircraft crossing into the airspace of NATO allies has raised concerns along the alliance’s eastern flank. This development coincides with European partners urging Trump to adopt a more decisive stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine. Earlier this month, NATO forces shot down Russian drones that crossed into Poland. Last week, Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, further rattling US allies. On Tuesday, Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics urged for a “show of force” from Nato in light of Russian incursions. “I think the rules of engagement need also to be upgraded in a way that if Russia continues, the opening of fire would be an alternative,” he stated. In recent days, Trump has seemingly minimized the seriousness of the Russian incursions, at times implying uncertainty about whether an earlier incident was an accident or even a “mistake.” Meanwhile, other nations have characterized these violations as deliberate actions by the Kremlin aimed at testing the resolve of Ukraine’s allies. There are those who have raised concerns about whether Moscow is trying to redirect the alliance’s resources away from supporting Ukraine.
Earlier Tuesday, NATO issued a statement promising a “robust” response to the Russian incursions, stating it would utilize all options, including military, to defend itself. Russia’s Defense Ministry has refuted claims that its jets entered Estonian airspace. Finnish President Alexander Stubb remarked that the response thus far has been “so far, so good.” He urged allies “not to overreact but be firm enough, because the only thing Russia understands is power,” he stated in an interview. The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on Tuesday occurred as Kyiv’s allies urge Washington to intensify economic pressure on Putin while also seeking support for security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression. “We need more pressure and more sanctions,” Zelenskyy stated to Trump. He later characterized the meeting as good and constructive, stating that the US president was prepared to offer security guarantees following the war. Trump conveyed to Zelenskyy that the conversation regarding security guarantees was intended for “later down the road” and that it was “a little bit too early to answer that question.” Officials in Europe and the US have engaged in discussions regarding military strategies to bolster Ukraine’s security post-war; however, the dialogue surrounding security guarantees remains predominantly theoretical, as the chances for a ceasefire have diminished. Putin has demonstrated no indications of readiness to conclude his nearly four-year conflict with Ukraine, relying on military escalation as the most effective strategy to compel Kyiv into negotiations on his terms, citing sources close to the Kremlin. The Russian leader is expected to persist in his efforts to strike Kyiv’s energy network and civilian infrastructure, according to sources, as he perceives that Trump is not likely to significantly enhance Kyiv’s defenses.
Over two dozen European nations have committed to offering Ukraine security assurances, which include the deployment of troops. Trump has thus far dismissed the idea of sending troops to Ukraine but has suggested alternative forms of support, possibly encompassing intelligence and air assistance. In recent weeks, Trump has redirected his pressure towards European allies, insisting that they cease their purchases of Russian energy if they expect him to implement new direct measures against Moscow. The US president has previously stated his consideration of imposing tougher penalties on Putin, yet he has refrained from taking action, even as the Russian leader has consistently ignored previous deadlines for achieving a ceasefire with Ukraine. During a meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump remarked on his positive relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Trump stated, “I believe Orban will stop buying Russian oil.” Hungary, a landlocked nation, has shown reluctance to halt Russian oil imports, expressing apprehensions regarding the financial implications of transitioning to alternative sources. In his UN address earlier Tuesday, Trump stated he was “fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs” if Russia was not ready to make a deal to end the war. However, he emphasized that European nations “would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures.”
“Everyone thought Russia would win this war in three days, but it didn’t work out that way. It was supposed to be just a quick little skirmish,” Trump remarked, with Zelenskyy observing from the audience. “It’s not making Russia look good; it’s making them look bad.” During her meeting with Trump on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the US president was “absolutely right” about halting Russian energy imports, while highlighting that allied nations had already significantly decreased gas purchases. When questioned about the 2027 timeline for the EU to eliminate the last of its Russian oil and gas imports, she suggested that efforts were underway to surpass that deadline.
