Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said any country that imposes a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered to have entered into an armed conflict with Moscow as the war continues to rage between the two countries.
“Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country,” AFP quoted the Russian leader as saying during a meeting with employees of Aeroflot airline which announced the suspension of all its international flights beginning March 8, except neighbouring Belarus.
He said imposing a no-fly zone would have “colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world”.Putin also dismissed rumours of Russia planning to declare martial law with his country’s military incursion in Ukraine in its second week. “Martial law should only be introduced in cases where there is external aggression… we are not experiencing that at the moment and I hope we won’t,” Putin said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for a no-fly zone over his country and lashed out at NATO for refusing to impose one, warning that “all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you”.
NATO has said a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorised aircraft from flying over Ukraine, could provoke widespread war in Europe. However, as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
