War in Europe

Trump: 'Nato countries shoot down Russian jets, Ukraine can regain its territories'

US President: 'Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years'

23 September 2025

Il presidente Donald Trump incontra il presidente ucraino Volodymyr Zelenskyy durante l'Assemblea generale delle Nazioni Unite, martedì 23 settembre 2025, a New York. (Foto AP/Evan Vucci)

3' min read

Key points

Answer "in the world, time and scope of our choice"
Rutte: 'Ready to react if Russian jets are risk'
Danish investigation into whether Russia is responsible
Crosetto: "Plan for airport and infrastructure security in Italy"
Trump's words on the sidelines of the UN assembly
Pope: "Russian incursions? Someone seeks escalation"

3' min read

The Russiais fully responsible for these actions, which constitute an escalation, risk leading to wrong assessments and endanger human lives: they must stop". This was stated by NATO after the Atlantic Council agreed under Article 4 at the request of Estonia following last Friday's Russian Mig raid. Moscow "must be in no doubt: NATO and the Allies will deploy, in accordance with international law, all military and non-military means necessary to defend themselves and deter all threats from all directions"..

Answer "in the world, time and scope of our choice"

NATO will continue to respond 'in the manner, time and scope of our choosing. Our commitment to Article 5 is unwavering,' it further reads. "Allies will not be deterred by these and other irresponsible acts of Russia from their enduring commitment to support Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, in exercising its inherent right to self-defence against Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression.The Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (Saceur)," the note continues, recounting the latest events, "informed the Council about this incident, in which three armed Russian MiG-31 aircraft violated Estonian airspace for over ten minutes. NATO's response was swift and decisive. Allied aircraft were scrambled to intercept and escort them out of Estonian airspace: this incursion is part of a larger picture of increasingly irresponsible behaviour by Russia'.

It is, in fact, the 'second time in a fortnight that the North Atlantic Council meets under Article 4.

Russia, la “gioiosa macchina da guerra” perde colpi

Rutte: 'Ready to react if Russian jets are risk'

Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, also makes his point: 'We will always react calmly and decisively because we have all the necessary defensive systems in place to ensure the defence of every inch of allied territory. And, of course, we will always ensure that we react proportionately. But, if necessary, you can rest assured that we will do everything necessary to defend our cities, our people and our infrastructure,' Rutte says. "But that does not mean that we will always immediately shoot down an aircraft."

Trump's words on the sidelines of the UN assembly

Donald Trump, after meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in New York, entered the debate by arguing that Nato nations should 'shoot down Russian planes' if they violate their airspace, apparently forgetting, however, that Nato is largely him as head of the US military. Not surprisingly, when asked if the US would help its allies against Russia, he replied with a sibylline 'it depends on the circumstances'.

"I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and regain" its territories: "With time and patience, and financial and NATO support, the original borders from when the war began are an option." Donald Trump states this on his social Truth. "Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years, a war that a true military power should have won in less than a week. This does not distinguish Russia. In fact, it makes it look like a paper tiger." This is stated by Donald Trump on his social Truth.

Trump: 'Ukraine can regain its territories'

"After knowing and fully understanding the military and economic situation between Ukraine and Russia, and after seeing the economic problems it is causing Russia, I think that Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is able to fight back and regain all of Ukraine in its original form. "When the people of Moscow and all the big cities across Russia find out what's really going on in this war, the fact that it's almost impossible for them to get petrol through the long queues that are forming, and all the other things that are going on in their war economy, where most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine, which has a Great Spirit and is only getting better, Ukraine will be able to take back its country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even more," Trump highlighted.

The Pope: "Russian incursions? Someone seeks escalation'

Europe needs 'unity', Pope Leo says as he leaves Castel Gandolfo. On the Russian incursions, "someone is looking for an escalation," he commented, "this is more dangerous every time, I still insist on the need to leave weapons, leave military operations and approach the table of dialogue. Asked if Europe was not weak, the Pontiff replied: 'Europe, if it were truly united, could do so much'.