UNITED NATIONS (AFP) U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said NATO members should be prepared to shoot down Russian aircraft that breach their airspace, as tensions with Moscow continue to heighten across Europe.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump was asked whether NATO should respond militarily if Russian jets enter alliance territory. “Yes I do,” he said, backing the use of force to deter such violations.
His remarks follow a series of recent incursions by Russian fighter jets and drones, which have raised alarm in NATO capitals. European allies, particularly those bordering Russia and Ukraine, have voiced growing concern about Moscow’s escalating military maneuvers.
Despite the tough message, Trump once again sidestepped questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions. Asked if he still trusted Putin to pursue peace, Trump replied: “I’ll let you know in about a month from now, okay?” He added that he was weighing potential new sanctions but has repeatedly postponed decisions, often giving short deadlines before pushing them back.
The U.S. leader, 79, has tried to balance his confrontational rhetoric with gestures of cautious engagement, having held a high-profile summit with Putin in Alaska in August. Yet the continued Russian offensives and airspace violations appear to be testing that approach.
Trump also sought to emphasize U.S. support for Kyiv, praising Ukraine’s resilience. “I have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up. It’s pretty amazing actually,” he said. Zelenskyy, in turn, thanked Trump for what he described as “personal efforts to stop this war” and echoed his call for European nations to reduce reliance on Russian oil, a step Ukraine says would cut Moscow’s ability to finance its war.
The recent incidents fueling the tension include a breach last Friday, when three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for about 12 minutes. NATO scrambled its own aircraft in response, while Estonia called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and discussions with alliance partners.
Earlier in September, Poland accused Russia of repeated drone violations during strikes on Ukraine, calling the incursions an “act of aggression.” The Polish government said the drones had crossed its borders multiple times, sparking fears of accidental escalation.
Initially, Trump had downplayed the Polish incident, suggesting it could have been a mistake. However, his latest remarks represent a hardening of his stance, signaling that Washington expects NATO allies to respond more decisively if Russian aircraft continue to test their defenses.
The ongoing airspace breaches underscore growing friction between Russia and NATO as the war in Ukraine drags on. For European members of the alliance, particularly those in the Baltics and Eastern Europe, the issue has become a test of both NATO’s credibility and its readiness to defend its borders.
Trump’s comments mark one of his clearest endorsements of a direct military response to Russian provocations, putting renewed focus on NATO’s collective security commitments and the risks of escalation.
