Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged NATO to impose a no-fly zone on Ukraine to counter threats from Russian military aircraft. But for now NATO leaders have said they are not ready for it. Reports suggest he fears doing so could drag him into a wider war with Russia.
What is the concept of no-fly zone?
A no-fly zone is an order to ban aircraft in a specified area. Most of the government offices, public places, religious and cultural places have no-fly zones for security reasons. Their most controversial use is when used during conflict to prevent military aircraft from engaging in hostile actions.
No-fly zones can allow countries to act without large numbers of ground troops. It is dependent on a relatively small number of aircraft and supporting infrastructure. But enforcing such sanctions could also involve a significant use of force, including the destruction of air defense defenses or the shooting down of aircraft.
What have Russia and NATO said?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any country attempting to impose a no-fly zone on Ukraine would be “participating in an armed conflict”. This would increase the risk of Russian retaliation.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said member states rejected the no-fly zone out of fear it could lead to “a full-blown war in Europe”. Ukrainian President Zelensky has said that NATO’s refusal of such a move has given Russia the “green light” to continue the war.
When have no-fly zones been used in previous years?