NATO turns down Ukraine’s request for military help
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has turned down a request for help from Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called on NATO and Western allies to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing bombardment.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg however said an extraordinary meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs had resolved that the body would not intervene militarily in the conflict.
NATO said it would not join to fight Russia but would maintain that it remains committed to keeping channels for diplomacy and deconfliction open.
“We have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine. Because that would be even more devastating and more dangerous. With even more human suffering,” Mr Stoltenberg said.
“NATO is not seeking a war with Russia.
NATO said its decision is “to avoid any unintended escalation, misunderstanding, or miscalculation.”
He also said that the security organisation had not considered declaring a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
“We’ve agreed that we should not have NATO planes operating over Ukrainian airspace or NATO troops on Ukrainian territory,” Stoltenberg said.
On Thursday, European Council President Charles Michel said that enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine is not a NATO decision, adding that it presented a “real risk of escalation and a real risk of a possible third international war.”
Similarly, the United States has said that it will not put US troops in the air to create a no-fly zone in Ukraine, according to the its ambassador to the United Nations.