NATO ready to shoot down Russian jets if needed Michał Górski 23.09.2025 16:23 DrukujPDFMark RuttePhoto. NATO FacebookTwitterLinkedInCopy linkSend email NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the North Atlantic Alliance is prepared to shoot down Russian aircraft violating the airspace of member states. According to the Dutch politician, in this particular case “there was no need” to shoot down the Russian aircraft. Tuesday’s North Atlantic CouncilThe press conference followed the second urgent consultation of the North Atlantic Council this month, triggered by the invocation of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. In recent weeks, Russian aircraft and drones have also entered the airspace of Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Romania, and Denmark.