According to Walesa, such actions on the part of Russia cannot be tolerated.
"If I was a commanding officer on that ship, and I saw those planes flying above, I would just shoot them down." He said in an interview to Free Europe radio, "I wouldn't kill the pilots. I'd shoot through the wing"
The former leader of the eastern European country asserted that it is the proper way to answer the alleged "Russian threat" and that "otherwise they will win," but he does not believe such an act of hostility would lead to a military conflict with Russia.
"Nobody wants conflict, including Russia," he said, adding that Moscow would rather use such methods as blackmail and intimidation to achieve its goals.
Following the incident, Moscow imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey and has repeatedly said that Ankara should apologize for downing the plane and cover any material losses to the country and the pilot's family.
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin to express regret and send condolences for the downing of the Russian Su-24 bomber over Syria.
