Donald Trump (AP)
US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Nato member nations should shoot down Russian planes that violate their airspace. He made the remarks while meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a UN summit as tensions over the Ukraine war continue to rise.“Yes, I do,” Trump responded when asked by a reporter whether Nato countries should shoot down Russian aircraft that violate their airspace.However, Trump refrained from committing the United States to shooting down Russian aircraft that violate NATO airspace.“Depends on the circumstance,” he said, as cited by CNN. “But you know, we’re very strong toward Nato.”He also sidestepped questions about whether he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared for peace despite recent escalations.”I’ll let you know in about a month from now, okay?” Trump said when asked if he still trusted Putin, whom he met during a high-profile summit in Alaska in August.Tensions between Russia and Europe over Ukraine have intensified following a recent series of airspace violations.Nato scrambled jets on Friday after three Russian MiG-31 fighters briefly entered Estonian airspace for about 12 minutes, prompting Estonia to request a UN Security Council meeting and consult with Nato allies. Earlier this month, Poland, another Nato member, reported repeated Russian drone incursions during attacks on Ukraine, labeling the incidents an “act of aggression.” Trump has previously suggested that the Polish incident may have been accidental.The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022.In an effort to stop the escalating conflict, Trump has repeatedly set two-week deadlines for decisions on measures such as new sanctions against Russia.In a televised confrontation with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February, Trump said he had “great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up. It’s pretty amazing actually.”Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his “personal efforts to stop this war” and supported Trump’s appeal for European countries to halt purchases of Russian oil, as cited by AP.
