Zelensky: NATO countries should have shot down Russian drones and jets

Zelensky: NATO countries should have shot down Russian drones and jets

Ukrinform
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes that NATO member states should have shot down all Russian drones and aircraft that violated their airspace.

He made the remarks in an interview with Axios, Ukrinform reports.

When asked whether NATO's response to Russian drone incursions into the airspace of Poland and Romania, and incidents at airports in Denmark and Norway, had been weak, Zelensky said the reaction was insufficient.

"I think yes. A weak reaction. That's why he [Russian leader Vladimir Putin] continued with other countries," he said.

Zelensky agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump's position that NATO members should be shooting down Russian drones and jets.

"They had to shoot down everything. If somebody is on your land killing your people, you have to answer this person. If the jets are in your airspace, you have to block it," he said.

Read also: Trump backs Ukraine's strikes on targets inside Russia – Zelensky

When asked whether he thought NATO countries were afraid to do so because of the risk of Russian retaliation, Zelensky said that, for the most part, they are afraid.

"Of course, I know some leaders who are not afraid, but mostly countries are afraid. They are afraid, and I think they are right because Russia is crazy," he said.

As reported, Polish forces shot down drones that entered Polish airspace on the night of September 9-10. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said allies were dealing with a "large-scale provocation" from Moscow.

On September 13, a Russian drone penetrated Romanian territory to a distance of about 10 kilometers and remained in the country's airspace for roughly 50 minutes.

U.S. President Donald Trump believes NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft when they cross into their airspace.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

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