Last hour NATO countries should break Russian aircraft if they break their air space, says Trump, in a face-to-face meeting with Zelenski
The US President Donald Trump has a bilateral meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, in the margin of the General Assembly of the United Nations on New York, on September 23, 2025. Photo: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Profimedia
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that NATO countries should break down Russian aircraft if they fall into the airline of Atlantic alliance shortly after Member States sentenced Moscow to violate Estonian airspace, Sky News and CNN.
“Yes, I think this,” Trump replied to reporters when he was asked about the breaking of NATO airplanes.
Trump made these statements in front of reporters during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski, in the margin of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) held in New York.
Later, he refrained from saying that the United States will join efforts to break down Russian aircraft that violate NATO's airspace.
“It depends on the circumstances,” said the American leader. “But you know, we are very strong like NATO,” he added.
With a very warm tone, Trump called his Ukrainian counterpart “a big man” and said he “carries an extraordinary struggle”.
“We have a great respect for the struggle that Ukraine carries, is quite amazing,” the US president said.
Trump then offered Zelenski the opportunity to talk about the successes of Ukraine on the front, saying, “Do you want to tell us how you do on the battlefield?”.
For his part, Volodimir Zelenski said he would inform Trump about military situations on the front, adding that “we have good news.”
The Kiev leader said they will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and the prospect of exerting greater pressure on Russia.
Trump adopts a new tone on Ukraine
Continuing the change of tone about Ukraine, Trump once again stated that her soldiers and citizens “are very brave”.
“Look, they are fighting, and this war lasts for three and a half years,” the American leader of New York reporters told.
“People believed it would end quickly, because Russia is a great military power, and Ukraine, I tell you, has good fighters,” Trump continued.
These statements mark a significant change in Trump's tone to Ukraine, the February confrontation in the Oval Bureau is still alive then there is a face -to -face meeting between Trump and Zelenski.
Trump suggests that he will talk to Viktor Orban about Russian oil purchases
The US president suggested that he could intervene personally to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to stop his continuous Russian oil acquisitions.
“He is a friend of mine. I didn't talk to him, but I have the feeling that if I did, he might stop. And I think I will do that,” Trump said while answering a reporter in the bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski.
The comments of the American leader came against the background of increasing pressure on NATO allies after issuing an ultimatum in a letter, saying that the US will impose “major” sanctions on Russia only if they agree to do the same and cease the purchase of oil from Russia.
NATO member countries have mobilized in recent weeks after Russian drones and aircraft have violated their air space.
The North Atlantic Alliance said on Tuesday that it will use “all the necessary military and non-military instruments” to defend itself after what it has called “an increasingly irresponsible behavior” from Moscow, following the recent violations of NATO member states.
Lithuania requested NATO in August several means of anti-aircraft defense after two military drones collapsed on its Belarus territory.
Denmark, a northern state, announced on Tuesday that the drones that stopped flights on its main airport on Monday night were related to both a series of suspected incursions that they were held with Russian drones and other disturbances from all over Europe.
Estonia announced on Friday that three MIG-31 Russian fighter jets violated its air space for 12 minutes before being escorted outside NATO fighter jets.
Poland also announced that about 20 Russian drones entered the Polish air space on the night of September 9-10. The incursion caused NATO planes to break some of them, and the military alliance decided to strengthen its defense on the eastern flank of Europe.
