Prior to attending the memorial service of conservative influencer and activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday, Donald Trump stated that he “would” help defend Poland and the Baltic states if Russia keeps accelerating.
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Trump’s answer comes at a time of increased pressure from NATO regarding increased levels of Russian escalation in Europe. Several countries, including Lithuania, Estonia, and the Czech Republic, have urged NATO to implement a stronger response to Russian provocations, including shooting down Russian jets that breach the alliance’s borders.
The reactions come after Russia violated NATO airspace in Estonia for 12 minutes on Friday, causing the country to invoke NATO article 4 and an emergency meeting of the UN security council. About a week and a half ago, an estimated 19 drones violated Polish airspace, causing Poland to do the same.
“We must respond appropriately, including possibly shooting down Russian aircraft,” he said, adding: “What has happened in recent days in Poland and Estonia, and what has been happening in Ukraine for four years now, concerns us all. If we don't stick together, sooner or later it will happen to us too," Czech President Petr Pavel said.
Lithuanian defense minister Dovile Sakaliene also suggested that Russian drones be shot down in a post published on X.
"Three russian fighter jets over Tallinn is one more hard proof that #EasternSentry is long due. NATOs border in the North East is being tested for a reason. We need to mean business. PS. Türkiye set an example 10 years ago. Some food for thought," she wrote.
Poland’s defense minister also called for more urgent NATO reactions on Sunday, as he reacted to the latest infringement into Estonian airspace.
“NATO should react very firmly and unequivocally to Russia’s provocations,” he said on Sunday in Boguchwała in the Podkarpacie region.
In response to the most recent violations of their airspace, the Estonian foreign ministry announced that “On September 22... the United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency meeting in response to Russia’s brazen violation of Estonian airspace last Friday.”