So Bold! Trump Challenges NATO to Confront Russia
US President Donald Trump sparked a new debate at the UN General Assembly after stating that NATO countries should shoot down Russian fighter jets violating their airspace. The statement came after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in New York, following a series of airspace violations that have alarmed Eastern European countries.
In a social media post, Trump reiterated his belief that Ukraine, with EU support, could retake all territory controlled by Russia by 2022. He stated that Russia is facing major economic problems, making it the right time for Ukraine to act. However, Trump continued to emphasize the importance of Europe playing a greater role in pressuring Moscow.
However, when asked whether the US would support NATO if the Russian jet were shot down, Trump offered no definitive answer, simply saying it “depends on the situation.” This ambiguity has left some allies skeptical about Washington’s commitment to supporting Kyiv and pressuring the Kremlin.
Incidents of Russian airspace violations have been on the rise recently. Last week, NATO shot down a Russian drone that had intruded into Poland, while a Russian fighter jet also flew for 12 minutes over Estonian territory. Several European leaders have urged NATO to demonstrate greater assertiveness, including the option of shooting down Russian jets if violations continue, although Russia denies the accusations. (ads)
Source: Bloomberg.com
