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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky The leaders of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have appealed for a no-fly zone to be imposed over his country as it continues its war with Russia, sparking debate about the consequences of such a move.
“If there was a no-fly zone, and we had to enforce it, that would mean that the American planes would fly in tandem with the Russian planes. And you would run the risk of American planes shooting down the Russians or vice versa.” A news contributor and former head of the CIA’s Moscow station, he told Fox News Digital.
A no-fly zone prohibits aircraft from a certain area and is sometimes used over government buildings for security reasons. These zones were also imposed in times of conflict to prevent military aircraft from attacking the area.
Russia invades Ukraine: live updates
Hoffman told Fox News Digital that, back in the Cold War, US strategy did not impose “any direct kinetic engagement with the Soviet Union or with Russia.”
“This means that our soldiers do not raise their firearms to shoot in the face and vice versa,” he said.
Instead, the United States has fought proxy wars with Russia since the end of World War II, including Currently in Ukraine. But a no-fly zone could change that and put American soldiers in direct conflict with the Russians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on Russia’s military operation in Ukraine on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv.
(Presidency of Ukraine/Hiba/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Zelenskyy contract a Zoom call with more than 280 US legislators On Saturday, he called for “urgent” military support and humanitarian aid, including “control of the skies”, to fight Russia. Also called NATO and President Biden Last week he imposed a no-fly zone on “important parts” of the country.
“We repeat every day: Close the sky over Ukraine!” Zelensky said in a video posted on Twitter on Sunday, with English subtitles.
But his pleas hit a brick wall.
NATO and the White House have denied imposing a no-fly zone, while some US leaders have described such a move as having dire consequences.
“The only way to enforce a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter jets into Ukrainian airspace, and then enforce that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes,” said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “We understand the desperation, but we also believe that if we did, we would end up with something that could end in all-out war in Europe.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference after the NATO-Ukraine Committee meeting at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
(AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)
The no-fly zone threatens a direct military conflict with Russia. It could potentially escalate into World War III, pitting nuclear-powered nations such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom against their colleagues. Nuclear Russia.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 74% of Americans across the political spectrum support a no-fly zone. But some US leaders say the issue is far more complex than simply banning planes over Ukraine.
“If people understand what that meansIt means World War III. “It means the start of World War III,” Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio said Saturday on ABC’s “This Week.” “There is no rule that you pass and everyone must abide by it. It is the desire to shoot down the planes of the Russian Federation, which was basically the beginning of the Third World War.”
Democrats have also sounded the alarm about imposing a no-fly zone, including Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.
“I think we need to be clear that we are not going to go to war with Russia, this will be the beginning of World War III, and it will drag the whole of Europe into a much wider war,” Murphy said.Fox News Sunday.“
Zelensky addressed those concerns on Monday and said the Russian planes bombing his country, including schools, “need to be shot down” in order to “save lives.”
He told ABC News, “I’m sure the brave American soldiers who would shoot her knew that she was turning toward the students — I’m sure they had no doubts about doing so.”
Humanitarian no-fly zone over Ukraine proposed by former NATO Supreme Commander
Some US legislators, As Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, However, he indicated that the option of a no-fly zone must remain on the table, while the retired US Air Force commander of NATO, General Philip Breedlove, said that a humanitarian no-fly zone could allow relief trains to enter the country and for the wounded to be cared for.
Hoffman told Fox News Digital that he understands why Zelensky is calling for a no-fly zone because it sets off alarm bells that the Ukrainian leader says “help me or I’ll die.”
Instead, Hoffman said, the United States could provide assistance in the form of halting imports of Russian oil and gas and acquiring Ukrainian air defense systems and anti-tank missiles.
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Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, and battles continued to erupt in many major ports and cities. Zelensky addressed European leaders on Friday and said that if Ukraine were to win, “it would be a victory for the entire democratic world.”
“If we fall it will fall, so please don’t shut up, don’t turn a blind eye to this,” he added.
