UNITED NATIONS — President Trump said Tuesday that NATO member countries should shoot down Russian aircraft that enter their airspace, in his boldest statement yet against the Kremlin as the Ukraine war rages on.
“Yes, I do,” Mr. Trump said when asked about the possibility of a NATO shootdown during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
When asked if the U.S. would back up its NATO allies if one of them shoots down a Russian jet, Mr. Trump responded, “depends.” He did not elaborate, but Article 5 of the NATO charter states that should a member of the alliance be attacked, all members will “take the actions it deems necessary” to assist.
The president’s comments suggest that he may be open to more direct ways to confront Russian aggression beyond sending weapons to Ukraine. In another shift, Mr. Trump also said Tuesday that he thinks Ukraine can win the war.
Russia has been accused of breaching the airspace of NATO’s eastern flank members, Poland and Romania, with drones, and Estonia with fighter jets.
Earlier Tuesday, NATO warned Russia that it would use all means to defend itself from an incursion of Russian fighter jets or drones. Russia has rejected claims that it is intentionally violating other nations’ airspace.
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“Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and Allies will employ, in accordance with international law, all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions,” the 32-member military alliance said in a statement.
When asked on Tuesday if suspected aircraft would be shot down, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said it would be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Earlier this week, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said his nation “will defend its airspace” if Russian jets violate it. Sweden joined NATO last year as part of an expansion of the alliance in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
After his meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, the president offered his most positive assessment of Ukraine’s ability to win the war, saying it could win back all the territory lost to Russia.
The comments, posted on Truth Social, reflect a marked shift in Mr. Trump’s rhetoric toward Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Trump has previously endorsed Ukraine giving up the territory it lost in the war in order to secure a peace deal.
“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation and, after seeing the economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back to its original form,” Mr. Trump wrote.
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“With time, patience and the financial support of Europe, and, in particular, NATO, the original borders from where this war started is very much an option. Why not?” he said.
Mr. Trump said, “Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three-and-a-half years, a war that should have taken a real military power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like a paper tiger.”
The president said it’s time for Ukraine to seize the moment, saying Russia “is in big economic trouble.” Mr. Trump also vowed to continue to supply weapons to NATO.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.