President Donald Trump said Tuesday he believes NATO member countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace as the defense alliance confronts the potential for an expansion of the war in Ukraine.
“Yes, I do,” Trump said when posed a question about NATO shoot-downs during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Later, he stopped short of saying the United States would join in the effort to shoot down violating Russian aircraft.
“Depends on the circumstance,” he said. “But you know, we’re very strong toward NATO.”
NATO members have scrambled in recent weeks after Russian drones and aircraft violated their airspace.
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission Friday.
That came the week after several Russian drones and fighter jets entered Polish airspace, prompting a scramble of F-15 and F-35 fighter jets.
European allies warned Monday during a fiery emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that they would shoot down Russian jets or drones involved in any further violations of NATO airspace.