Strikes, Airspace Breaches: Russia Draws Flak; Trump Backs NATO, Says Must Shoot Down Jets Violating Territory
US President Trump has said that Ukraine could retake all its land occupied by Russia. Image courtesy: RNA
The war in Ukraine has entered another precarious phase. As Russian forces intensify strikes on eastern cities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is doubling down on diplomatic outreach, most notably to US President Donald Trump, while NATO has issued a fresh warning to Moscow over airspace violations.
The simultaneous battlefield escalation and diplomatic maneuvering underscore the fragile balance between deterrence and escalation in Europe’s most consequential war since World War II.
In a rhetorical shift, the US President has expressed his belief that Ukraine could retake all its land occupied by Russia. This marks a complete U-turn from his previous statements wherein Trump said Ukraine should give up its territory for peace. “Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“After seeing the Economic trouble (the war) is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” he said.
Russia-Ukraine war: What is happening on the battlefield?
On the ground, Ukraine faces mounting challenges. Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks on Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. The strikes caused civilian casualties and widespread infrastructure damage, reinforcing Moscow’s intent to degrade Ukraine’s logistics, energy systems, and public morale.
The assaults highlight how despite Western sanctions and months of Ukrainian counteroffensives, Russia continues to deliver punishing strikes deep into Ukrainian territory. Kyiv’s air defense systems, though bolstered by Western technology, remain under constant strain.
For Zelensky, this battlefield pressure amplifies the urgency of securing sustained U.S. and NATO support.
What about Russia’s airspace breaches?
Well, Russia is not just delivering strikes on the ground in Kyiv but also repeatedly breaching airspace of several NATO members, as Poland, Romania, Estonia have highlighted in the recent past. In the latest such incident, Denmark and Norway were forced to close their main airports on Monday night due to drone sightings.
While the Danish police could not confirm the type or the number of drones seen around Copenhagen Airport, they told reporters that they were likely flown by a “capable operator” who wanted to “show off”.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, though without confirming, underlined that Russian involvement could not be ruled out. “It says something about the times we live in and what we as a society must be prepared to deal with,” Frederiksen told reporters.
In a social media post later, Ukrainian President Zelensky referenced “Russia’s violation” of Nato airspace in Copenhagen on September 22, but did not indicate a source for the information.
What was NATO’s reaction to Russia’s escalation?
NATO’s latest communiqué sent a clear message that the alliance will stand firm against Russian provocations. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed NATO’s “ironclad commitment” to Article 5, the collective defense clause that guarantees a response if any ally is attacked.
“Allies will not be deterred by these and other irresponsible acts by Russia from their enduring commitments to support Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, in the exercise of its inherent right to self-defence against Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war of aggression,” NATO said in a statement.
The statement condemned Moscow’s ongoing aggression and pledged enhanced air defense coordination, expanded joint exercises, and long-term military and financial aid to Ukraine. NATO also singled out Russian violations of allied airspace as “reckless and destabilizing,” warning that deliberate provocations would not go unanswered.
Russian aircraft have repeatedly tested NATO’s defenses, particularly along the borders of the Baltic states and Poland. Each incursion risks triggering a dangerous confrontation.
Is Trump backing NATO in fighting Russia?
In a shift of tone, the US President on Tuesday (September 23, 2025) said NATO nations should shoot down Russian planes violating their territory, as he met Zelensky on the sidelines of a UN summit. Trump’s comments on NATO have injected a new dimension into the debate.
He argued that NATO should not simply protest Russian incursions but “shoot down Russian jets” if they violate allied airspace. When if NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace, the US President simply said, “Yes I do.”
Trump’s call to shoot down Russian jets has brought into sharp focus the risks of escalation, even as it highlights the stakes of deterrence. As Russia continues to strike Ukrainian cities, the West faces a stark question whether it will double down on collective resolve, or will diverging strategies open cracks that Moscow can exploit?
