DONALD Trump has told NATO countries to “shoot down” Russian aircraft if they breach allied airspace – but stopped short of promising automatic US support if Moscow strikes back.
Speaking at a press conference, the President said NATO members “shouldn’t hesitate” to act against Russian incursions.
GettyPresident Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky[/caption]
GettyThe pair met at the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly in New York[/caption]
One of the Russian mig-31 fighter jets that flew into Estonian airspaceReuters
APRussia denies the violation, but Estonia’s defence ministry cites radar and visual evidence[/caption]
But when asked if Washington would back them militarily, he was non-committal.
“That depends on the circumstance,” Trump said.
His comments come after a dramatic incursion on Friday when Vladimir Putin’s MiG-31 fighters brazenly tore into Estonian skies for 12 minutes, brushing off warnings from Italian F-35s scrambled from Amari Air Base.
Colonel Ants Kiviselg, Estonia’s military intel chief, said: “Russia acknowledged communication from Italian pilots flying F-35 fighter jets, but they apparently ignored it and didn’t actually follow the signs.
“Why they didn’t do it, that’s a question for the Russian pilots.”
Tallinn branded the flyover “unprecedentedly brazen” — the fourth violation this year — and demanded urgent NATO talks.
PM Kristen Michal fumed: “Such a violation is completely unacceptable.
“NATO’s response to any provocation must be united and strong.”
Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna called it “a very serious violation of NATO airspace,” the worst since 2003, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas blasted it as an “extremely dangerous provocation.”
Trump had warned of “big trouble” if the brazen stunts continue.
“I don’t love it. I don’t like it when that happens. It could be big trouble,” he said.
The flashpoint adds to Europe’s growing security nightmare.
Poland scrambled jets as NATO radar systems went on high alert, while Czech president Petr Pavel cautioned: “This is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option.”
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky branded the Estonian breach “outrageous” and warned: “It requires a systemic response.
“Strong action must be taken – both collectively and individually by each nation.”
Putin piled on the pressure the same night with an 11-hour missile and drone blitz across Ukraine.
Kyiv said Russia launched 580 drones and 40 missiles, with most intercepted, but at least three civilians killed and dozens wounded.
“Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians,” Zelensky said.
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