Russian President Vladimir Putin warns countries imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine will be considered participants in the ongoing conflict in the Eastern European country after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to the US and the West to intervene.
Putin said that Russia "will immediately" consider those nations as participants in the military conflict . " it doesn't matter members of which organizations they are," said as Russian forces continue to bombard Ukraine.
The Russian leader claimed that imposing a no-fly zone is only doable in neighboring countries, but it is impossible on the "very territory" of Ukraine, according to a CNN report.
Putin made the declaration in a meeting with the Russian national airline Aeroflot staff. On Saturday, the country's largest airline announced that it would suspend all international flights starting March 8, except flights to Belarus.
Zelensky Dismayed Over Lack of Action from The US and The West
Zelensky urged United States President Joe Biden to impose a "no-fly zone" over large sections of Ukraine, denying Russian planes the ability to fly, as the Ukrainian leader lamented the lack of military help so far.
Volodymyr Zelensky said the West's unwillingness to help signals Russia to continue attacking cities and villages in his nation.
However, the White House and NATO have rejected Zelenskyy's proposals, which hasn't stopped advocates from supporting his plea.
As per BBC, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also dismissed the idea of imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Though he believes Ukraine would win its battle against Russia eventually.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the introduction of a no-fly zone could lead to a "full-fledged war in Europe" that would involve other countries and result in further misery.
The United Nations estimates that no less than 1.2 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of the invasion on February 24.
The Dangers of Imposing a No-Fly Zone over Ukraine
To Zelensky's supporters in the US, declaring a no-fly zone over Ukraine would help address the situation in a seemingly less risky way than sending troops to the Eastern European country. However, military experts say that such a move would make things worse.
A former US Air Force general explained why the United States is hesitant in declaring a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Philip Breedlove, a retired US Air Force general and former NATO supreme allied commander Europe, explained that it has to be enforced for a no-fly zone to be effective. The country must be "willing to use force" against those who enter the zone.
He added that enforcing a no-fly zone means "bombing enemy radars and missile systems on the other side of the border" to take out weapons that can endanger the US and NATO aircraft.
"That is tantamount to war. " he said.
In Russia's eyes, such action would constitute a declaration of war by NATO, which would undoubtedly exacerbate the conflict.
In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, the United States initially enforced a no-fly zone to protect Iraqi civilians. The strategy expanded throughout that decade and the next, coinciding with America's almost unrivaled air dominance, stated MSNBC.
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