Russia’s ambassador to France, Alexey Meshkov, has warned that any attempt by NATO forces to shoot down a Russian aircraft — even if justified by claims of a violation of the alliance’s airspace — would inevitably lead to war.

Speaking in an interview with the French radio station RTL, Meshkov stressed that such an action would mark a direct path to armed conflict. He also pointed out that NATO aircraft frequently cross into Russian airspace, yet none of them has ever been targeted by Russian forces.

The ambassador’s remarks followed recent statements by U. S. President Donald Trump, who argued that NATO member states should shoot down Russian planes if they breach the bloc’s airspace. French President Emmanuel Macron, however, took a different position, saying that alliance members should refrain from such actions in similar situations.