“This would mean that the US military is shooting down Russian planes”: Psaki rejects calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, while Zelensky begs the United States to impose one and says “our allies must also do their part.”
- Psaki rejected the idea of a US-banned zone banned from flying over Ukraine
- The United States used tactics in Iraq and over Serbia in the 1990s, but not against a nuclear adversary
- Psaki said this “would essentially mean that the US military would shoot down planes – Russian planes”
- Ukrainian President Zelensky reportedly asked President Biden for a no-fly zone over “significant parts” of the country
- Russian President Putin has ordered his country’s nuclear forces to be on high alert on Sunday, raising tensions
the White House Press secretary Jen Psaki rejected on Monday calls for the United States to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, citing the risk that it could draw the United States into direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.
Psaki was asked about the proposal in an interview with MSNBC after reports that Ukrainian President Vladimir Green he asked the president directly Joe Biden to impose one. She dismissed the idea as a risky escalation.
“What it would require is implementation by the US military. This would essentially mean that the US military would shoot down Russian aircraft. This is definitely escalating and could potentially put us in a military conflict with Russia. This is not something the president wants to do.
“These are the reasons it’s not a good idea,” she added when pressed.
Her comment came on a day when the United States and Western allies continued to take steps designed to harm Russia in other ways, including promises of defensive weapons.
– These are the reasons why it is not a good idea. Jen Psaki rejected the idea of a US-banned no-fly zone over Ukraine
President Biden on Friday instructed the State Department to release an additional $ 350 million military aide to Ukraine. The state said anti-aircraft weapons were involved.
Germany overcame its reluctance to send weapons to military zones when it announced it would send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine.
Russia continues to strike at Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, although US authorities say its airspace remains contested.
Psaki commented to MSNBC amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine
US officials fear growing civilian casualties amid ongoing Russian attack
It is still unclear how the Allies will acquire weapons and ammunition in Ukraine amid a massive Russian invasion.
A train with Czech equipment arrived on Sunday, and another is on its way on Monday, AP reported.
Zelenski asked Biden to impose a no-fly zone over “significant parts” of the country, Axios reported.
Zelensky said in a statement to the publication provided by an adviser: “If the West does this, Ukraine will defeat the aggressor with much less blood.”
He said US and European sanctions were “going in the right direction” but that “in addition to excluding Russia’s central bank from SWIFT [the international banking system] and by providing more Stingers and anti-tank weapons, we need the West to impose a no-fly zone over large parts of Ukraine. ”
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