Ukrainian President criticizes NATO over its rejection of a no-fly zone

10:38, 05.03.2022

President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized NATO over its rejection of a no-fly zone, hours after the alliance announced it would not intervene by air or land for fear of creating a conflict with Russia that could spill into other parts of Europe.

“Today, the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, having refused to set up a no-fly zone,” Zelensky said, according to Reuters.

Ukrainian officials had called for a no-fly zone, but NATO leaders have resisted, worried about a larger war. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, announcing the invasion last month, warned other countries against interfering.

Leaders of the alliance met Friday in Brussels, after which NATO’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said its members had rejected any possibility of intervening against Russian forces.

“We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine,” Mr. Stoltenberg said on Friday. “So we have made it clear that we are not going to move into Ukraine, neither on the ground or in Ukrainian airspace.”

By - Elene Dobordjginidze

War in Ukraine

no-fly zone

Volodymyr Zelensky