Poland has responded positively to Donald Trump’s comments that NATO nations should shoot down Russian aircraft violating alliance airspace. The US President made the comments alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday as he appeared to shift his stance on the Ukraine war and compare Russia to a “paper tiger”.

In a two-word reply to Mr Trump’s view, Warsaw foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X: “Roger that.” It was also received warmly in Estonia, with Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the country’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, saying: “We got it.” Both of the countries have experienced violations by Russian aircraft in recent weeks, sparking condemnation and alarm across NATO.

“Yes, I do,” Mr Trump said when asked by a reporter whether he believed NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace.

The reporter went on to ask: “You said that you thought that [NATO allies] should shoot down the Russian aircraft. Would you back them up? Would the United States help them out in some way?”

Mr Trump replied: “Depends on the circumstance. But, you know, we’re very strong toward NATO.

“NATO has stepped up. You know, when they went from 2% to 5%, that was great unity. Trillions of dollars is being pumped in and they’re paying us for the weapons that we sent.”

Earlier this month, there was outrage after an incursion of at least 19 Russian drones over Poland, while three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian skies without approval last week.

NATO condemned the incident over Estonia as “yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour”.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned his country will shoot down flying objects violating Polish airspace “without discussion”.

Mr Sikorski also sent Moscow a strong message, saying the Kremlin should not “whine” if its missiles or aircraft are downed after entering Polish territory without permission.

“You have been warned,” he said.

Mr Trump’s comments came ahead of an hour-long meeting with Mr Zelensky.

Following the talks, in a major break from his previous stance on the war, the US President claimed on social medial that Kyiv is “in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form”.

He wrote on Truth Social: “Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win.

“This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger’.”