Watch: Trump: NATO Should Shoot Down Russian Jets Violating Airspace

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Trump was asked directly whether NATO countries should shoot down Russian jets if they entered their airspace. His response was unequivocal: “Yes, I do.”

REPORTER: "Do you think that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace?"@POTUS: "Yes, I do." pic.twitter.com/jiiQJFA0FB

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 23, 2025

The comments came during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in New York to rally support for Kyiv as the war with Russia drags into its fourth year. While Trump voiced support for NATO’s right to defend its borders, he stopped short of guaranteeing that the United States would participate in such an operation. “Depends on the circumstance,” he added, though stressing that Washington remained “very strong toward NATO.”

Recent Airspace Violations Heighten Tensions

Trump’s remarks followed a series of alarming Russian incursions into NATO territory in recent weeks. Last Friday, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without authorization. Just days earlier, multiple Russian drones and aircraft strayed into Polish airspace, prompting NATO to scramble US-supplied F-15 and F-35 fighter jets.

These violations triggered an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, where European allies warned Moscow that any further breaches would be met with force. Several nations explicitly stated they were prepared to shoot down Russian drones or jets if their territorial integrity was challenged again.

Strong Words for Ukraine

Trump also used the occasion to praise Zelensky and Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russia. In stark contrast to the more strained tone of his first White House meeting with the Ukrainian leader years earlier, Trump described him as “a brave man” who was “putting up one hell of a fight.”

He emphasized that the war had not gone as Moscow planned. “This was supposed to be quick—so Russia doesn’t look very distinguished having taken three and a half years,” Trump remarked, adding that Ukraine’s defense had badly undermined Russia’s image of military superiority.

Broader Context: NATO Unity and Russia’s Struggles

The NATO alliance has been increasingly tested as Russia escalates its tactics, including drone warfare near its western borders. Trump’s endorsement of potential shoot-downs aligns with recent warnings from NATO leaders that airspace violations will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Trump also noted that Russia’s economy is in steep decline under the weight of international sanctions and the costs of its prolonged war. “The biggest progress is that the Russian economy is terrible right now,” he said, framing the economic impact as a sign of Ukraine’s success on the battlefield.