AFP, United Nations

Russia’s top diplomat yesterday warned of a “decisive response” to any “aggression” after US President Donald Trump backed calls to shoot down Russian planes that violate Nato airspace.

“Russia is being accused of almost planning to attack the North Atlantic alliance and the European Union countries,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the UN General Assembly.

“Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions. However, any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response,” he said.

Several Nato countries say Russian fighter jets and drones have violated their airspace in Europe over recent weeks, accusing Moscow of testing the alliance.

Asked on Tuesday whether he thought Nato states should shoot down any Russian planes that violate its airspace, Trump said: “Yes, I do.”

Lavrov went out of his way still to praise Trump, who despite his public musings on Putin has yet to impose long-threatened new economic sanctions on Russia.

“In the approaches of the current US administration, we see a desire not only to contribute to ways to realistically resolve the Ukrainian crisis, but also a desire to develop pragmatic cooperation without adopting an ideological stance,” Lavrov said.