# NATO rejects Ukraine no-fly zone, says ‘not part of this’ war
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-03-04
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: NATO Allies Reject Ukraine's No-Fly Zone Demand
Meta Description: NATO allies reject Ukraine's no-fly zone demand, increasing support but warning military action could escalate to a broader, more devastating European war.
URL: https://financedigest.com/nato-rejects-ukraine-no-fly-zone-says-not-part-of-this-warhtml

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By Simon Lewis and Sabine Siebold

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO allies rejected Ukraine’s demand for no-fly zones on Friday, saying they were increasing support but that stepping in directly would lead to a broader, even more brutal European war so far limited to Russia’s assault on its neighbour.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that wants to join the European Union and Western military alliance NATO, is not a currently a member of either. Support so far has come mainly in the form of far-reaching sanctions on Russia, with EU members on Friday [saying more financial punishment was yet](https://www.financedigest.com/swiss-national-bank-says-inflation-battle-not-yet-won.html "Swiss National Bank says inflation battle not yet won") to come.

We are not part of this conflict,” [NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-will-join-nato-on-tuesday-stoltenberg.html "Finland will join NATO on Tuesday – Stoltenberg") told a news conference.

We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this [war from escalating beyond Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war") because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for Western powers to enforce a no-fly zone since Moscow’s invasion started nine days ago, with Russia shelling cities and bringing fighting to [Europe’s largest nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/europes-energy-crisis-and-the-nuclear-path-out.html "Europe’s energy crisis and the nuclear path out") plant.

In a video message earlier on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said NATO foreign ministers should not allow Putin to “turn Ukraine into Syria,” in reference to the devastating Russia-backed [campaign against rebel cities in that country](https://www.financedigest.com/google-to-roll-out-anti-disinformation-campaign-in-some-eu-countries.html "Google to roll out anti-disinformation campaign in some EU countries").

Act now before it’s too [late,” he said in the message posted](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-delays-full-post-brexit-import-checks-until-late-2023.html "Britain delays full post-Brexit import checks until late 2023") on Twitter.

Stoltenberg said NATO understood Ukraine’s desperation, calling [Russia’s war in Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") “horrific” and warning the worst was yet to come, with Russia rolling out more heavy arms.

But we also believe that if we did that (a no-fly zone) we would end up with something that could lead to a full-fledged war in [Europe” involving many more countries](https://www.financedigest.com/best-countries-in-europe-to-live-in.html "Best countries in Europe to live in"), he said.

[NATO members have been sending](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-sweden-to-send-teams-to-turkey-to-discuss-nato-bids-haavisto-says.html "Finland, Sweden to send teams to Turkey to discuss NATO bids, Haavisto says") arms to Ukraine, but stopped short of military action. Russia and NATO-members United States, Britain and [France are all nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/france-seeks-strategy-as-nuclear-waste-site-risks-saturation-point.html "France seeks strategy as nuclear waste site risks saturation point") powers.

The only way for NATO to implement a no-fly zone would be to send NATO planes to shoot down Russian ones, Stoltenberg said, adding that the [risk of escalation would be too big](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-could-hike-rates-in-2023-if-inflation-risks-have-big-impact-cenbank.html "Russia could hike rates in 2023 if inflation risks have big impact -cenbank").

Allies agree we should not have NATO planes operating over [Ukrainian](https://www.financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drop.html "Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop") airspace or NATO troops operating in Ukrainian territory,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the alliance would [defend “every inch” of NATO territory from attack](https://www.financedigest.com/banks-can-provide-a-protective-shield-to-defend-customers-from-cyber-attack.html "Banks can provide a protective shield to defend customers from cyber attack"). “Ours is a defensive alliance. We seek no conflict. But if conflict comes to us, we are ready,” Blinken said.

MORE EU SANCTIONS

Instead of a military presence in Ukraine, European Union countries – most of them also NATO members – said they were eyeing more economic [sanctions to add to coordinated restrictions that have already targeted Russia’s](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-unleashes-rockets-after-mariupol-ceasefire-eu-eyes-oil-sanctions.html "Russia unleashes rockets after Mariupol ceasefire, EU eyes oil sanctions") financial system and elites.

EU officials are examining curbs on Russia’s influence and access to finance at the International Monetary [Fund following its invasion of Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine"), six officials told Reuters.

The bloc’s [top diplomat Josep Borrell said that all options remained on the table](https://www.financedigest.com/olympics-freestyle-skiing-gu-lands-big-air-gold-china-moves-to-top-of-medals-table.html "Olympics-Freestyle skiing-Gu lands Big Air gold, China moves to top of medals table") with regard to new sanctions.

It was not immediately clear, however, when the 27-nation EU would be able to agree on exact measures given member states’ divisions on doing [business with Moscow and some countries’ heavy reliance on Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/pizza-firm-dp-eurasia-considers-divestment-of-russian-business.html "Pizza firm DP Eurasia considers divestment of Russian business") energy supplies.

We will consider everything,” Borrell told reporters when [asked about the possible suspension of the EU’s gas imports from Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-asks-for-south-korea-cybersecurity-aid-amid-russia-invasion.html "Ukraine asks for South Korea cybersecurity aid amid Russia invasion"), which think-tank Eurointelligence said amount to $700 million daily even during the war.

Ireland’s Foreign [Minister Simon Coveney said no new sanctions would be announced on Friday but that a fourth round could affect more Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/permitted-share-of-chinas-yuan-in-russian-wealth-fund-doubled-to-60-finance-minister.html "Permitted share of China’s yuan in Russian wealth fund doubled to 60% -Finance Minister") banks’ access to the SWIFT international transfer system, bar Russian ships from European ports and cut imports like steel, timber, aluminium or coal.

Putin [launched his “special military operation” to get rid of what he said was Ukraine’s](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-ukraine-agree-to-launch-talks-to-upgrade-2008-trade-accord.html "U.S., Ukraine agree to launch talks to upgrade 2008 trade accord") fascist government and demilitarize the country. Zelenskiy [says Moscow is trying to prevent a liberal democracy flourishing on Russia’s](https://www.financedigest.com/renault-to-offload-its-stake-in-lada-maker-for-one-rouble-russia-says.html "Renault to offload its stake in Lada maker for one rouble, Russia says") border.

Russian invasion forces seized Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant on Friday in heavy fighting in southeastern Ukraine, triggering global alarm, but a huge blaze in a training [building has been extinguished and officials said the facility](https://www.financedigest.com/li-cycle-to-build-french-battery-processing-facility.html "Li-Cycle to build French battery processing facility") was now safe.

This is not just about [Ukraine and Russia,”](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-promises-to-scale-down-operations-in-northern-ukraine.html "Russia promises to scale down operations in northern Ukraine") Ireland’s Coveney said. It’s about all of us who [live on the continent of Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-strikes-protests-in-europe-over-cost-of-living-and-pay-2.html "Factbox-Strikes, protests in Europe over cost of living and pay"), who could potentially be impacted by an accident or a breach of that facility.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Bart Meijer, Francesco Guarascio, Philip Blenkinsop, John Irish, Simon Lewis, Marine Strauss, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)


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