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U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, a Florida Republican, says he supports a no-fly zone over Ukraine despite the risks of the U.S. shooting down a Russian plane and escalating the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country, but the US and European countries opposed the move.
“I absolutely support the no-fly zone over Ukraine,” Must said in an interview with Fox News. He clarified that he does not think that someone “wants to be in a ground conflict in Ukraine.”
Such an order could lead to war between the Kremlin and Western countries, as it would mean that NATO forces, including the US military, would shoot down Russian aircraft that violated the ban. This will actually pit the nuclear-capable superpowers against each other.
View of a Polish Air Force MiG-29 at the 22nd Air Base Command in Malbork, Poland. (Cuneyt Karadag/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE US INTRODUCES A FREE ZONE IN UKRAINE?
“One hundred percent, there is a risk if the US, NATO or [European Union] or someone starts imposing a no-fly zone,” the Florida Republican said. “No one should be under the illusion that this is not the case.”
Many US leaders and politicians have said that the introduction of a no-fly zone could lead to World War III.
But Mast, an army veteran, said the risk was necessary given Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unpredictability.
“As much as none of us would like to be in Ukraine, if we don’t do something, eventually everyone will be forced to end up in Ukraine,” Mast, who lost both legs in Afghanistan, told Fox News.
Mast said Putin could end up dragging NATO and the US into a military conflict even without a no-fly zone.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Sergey Guneev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)
“None of us should be under the illusion that Putin is a rational player or acts proportionately,” Mast said in an interview with Fox News. “This guy has invaded Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
“The fact that we are not doing something does not mean that Putin is still not reacting in some other way to NATO, the European Union or any other countries in Europe,” he continued.
Mast warned that Putin could respond to sanctions with military force against the West.
“Let’s not forget that economic warfare is as much a type of warfare as cyberwarfare is, as is kinetic warfare,” Mast told Fox News.
Shortly after Mast’s Fox News interview, the Kremlin accused the US of waging an “economic war” against Russia and warned America to wait for a response.
Mast also said that the tenacity and ferocity of the Ukrainians should be taken into account when weighing the costs and benefits of the no-fly zone.
“One of the things that also changes the calculus of things is that Ukrainians have shown us that they are lions and not lambs,” he told Fox News, calling Zelensky “inspiring.”
Mast said that “at a minimum” the US should provide Ukraine with “the tools to fight this war,” including aircraft, which Zelenskiy has also asked for. Poland offered to provide fighter jets, but the Pentagon refused.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla. (Fox News)
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Besides, the Florida Republican doesn’t expect the war to end diplomatically.
“Look at the demands of Vladimir Putin and Russia that he wants Crimea to be recognized as part of Russia,” Mast said. “He wants to get rid of their elected government and get rid of their constitution, make sure they never become part of NATO and the list goes on.
“The fact is that this is all that Putin requires that we, the West, the EU and NATO, all demand from Vladimir Putin. Putin demands that at this stage there should not be, in my opinion, a diplomatic solution.”