Donald Trump Tells NATO To Shoot Down Russian Jets Crossing Airspace In Fresh Jibe At Putin

US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, New York, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Donald Trump said NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft entering their airspace on Tuesday and claimed that Ukraine can win back all territory, in sudden shift. The US President made the comments while speaking to reporters after meeting Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Yes, I do,” Trump said when asked a question about NATO shoot-downs during his meeting with Zelenskyy.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte appeared to take a restrained approach, according to a report by US broadcaster CNN.

Rutte said that the shoot-downs should depend “on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft”.

“(This also includes) questions we have to answer like intent, armaments and potential risk to allies, forces, civilians or infrastructure. We will always assess the situation, assess the immediate threat the plane poses,” Rutte told the broadcaster after a meeting of NATO states.

First direct encounters between NATO and Moscow since the start of Ukraine war came recently following alleged incursions of Russian aircraft over Poland, Estonia and other nations. The CNN report said that the incursions tested the alliance’s preparedness and credibility in deterring Russia.

Russian jets allegedly violated Estonian airspace which forced Tallinn to call for a meeting.

Meanwhile, Trump suggested that Ukraine can go further than retaking its own territory that it has lost to Russia since the onset of the war in February 2022.

“I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” Trump said in a Truth Social Post after meeting Zelenskyy at the United Nations.

Trump added that on top of being able to take back the country in its original form, Kyiv could “maybe even go further than that!” — although he did not elaborate on what he meant.