NEW YORK, Sept 24 — In a bold and pointed statement during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the sidelines of the UN summit, former US President Donald Trump declared that NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft that violate the airspace of allied countries.
When asked by a reporter whether NATO forces should act decisively against such incursions, Trump didn’t hesitate: “Yes, I do.”
His remarks come amidst a series of tense incidents involving Russian fighter jets and drones breaching NATO airspace, which have sparked growing unease among European allies. Most recently, three Russian MiG-31s entered Estonian airspace for roughly 12 minutes—prompting an urgent response from NATO forces and calls from Estonia to convene the UN Security Council.
During the meeting, Trump also commented—albeit vaguely—on the intentions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. When pressed on whether he still trusted Putin after escalating tensions and military activities, Trump replied: “I’ll let you know in about a month from now, okay?”
This was yet another instance of Trump giving short-term deadlines regarding major geopolitical decisions, such as potential new sanctions against Russia, a stance he’s been repeating since August’s summit with Putin in Alaska.
Despite past disagreements—including a tense, televised exchange with Zelensky in February—Trump expressed admiration for Ukraine’s resilience. “I have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up. It’s pretty amazing actually,” he said.
In return, Zelensky extended gratitude to Trump for his “personal efforts to stop this war” and joined in urging European nations to end their purchases of Russian oil, saying such economic actions are critical to halting Moscow’s aggression.
Poland and other NATO members have also reported repeated airspace violations by Russian drones, calling them acts of provocation or aggression. Trump’s recent remarks mark a sharpening of tone, showing a willingness to support more assertive responses from NATO, even at the risk of military escalation.
