NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte supported US President Donald Trump's statement this week that NATO member states should shoot down Russian drones and planes if they enter their airspace and if such action is necessary, reports "Reuters".
"If necessary. So I completely agree with President Trump: if necessary," Rutte stressed.
He added that NATO military personnel are trained to assess such threats and determine whether they can escort Russian aircraft from allied territory or take further action.
Rutte again praised Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine, stressing that the American leader had been "very consistent" in his approach.
"The Kremlin told us that it is not a "paper tiger", but a bear. If you are a bear, you don't have to declare yourself a bear", he noted, stressing that this shows "great weakness" on the part of Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin "is not ready to cooperate", the NATO director general said.