Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned NATO’s resolution to rule out the implementation of a no-fly zone over the nation.
“NATO has intentionally determined to not cowl the skies over Ukraine,” Zelensky mentioned in a Fb handle late on Friday.
“We imagine that NATO nations have created a story that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russia’s direct aggression in opposition to NATO. That is the self-hypnosis of those that are weak, insecure inside, regardless of the actual fact they possess weapons many instances stronger than now we have,” he mentioned.
Zelensky mentioned NATO’s management on Friday: “Gave the inexperienced mild for additional bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, refusing to make a no-fly zone. You may have closed the sky!”
Zelensky described NATO’s summit on Friday the place the choice was made as, “a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit that exhibits that not everybody considers the battle for freedom to be Europe’s primary purpose.”
“For 9 days now we have been seeing a fierce battle — destroying our cities, shelling our folks, our kids, residential neighborhoods, church buildings, faculties, destroying all the things that gives a traditional life, human life,” Zelensky mentioned.
The Ukrainian president questioned what the members of NATO have been interested by throughout their assembly: “All of the individuals who will die from today may even die due to you, due to your weak spot, due to your disunity.”
Zelensky did, nonetheless, categorical his gratitude to NATO nations which have proven help for Ukraine: “I’m additionally grateful to the buddies of our nation. There are various nations that are our associates in NATO, most of our companions, most of our highly effective companions, those that assist our nation regardless of choices.”
Zelensky mentioned regardless of the dearth of no-fly zone he was certain Ukraine could be victorious: “From the primary day of the invasion, I’m certain of victory. And so we don’t really feel alone, we’ll proceed to combat, we’ll defend our state, we’ll liberate our land.”
Extra background: Earlier at the moment, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the establishment of a no-fly zone in Ukraine by the US and its NATO allies might result in a “full-fledged battle in Europe.”
He mentioned Washington would proceed to work with its allies to offer Ukrainians with the means to defend themselves from Russian aggression.
NATO’s chief mentioned Friday that a no-fly zone over Ukraine will not be an choice being thought of by the alliance. “We’ve agreed that we should always not have NATO planes working over Ukrainian airspace or NATO troops on Ukrainian territory,” Secretary-Normal Jens Stoltenberg mentioned at a information convention in Brussels.
European Council President Charles Michel mentioned on Thursday that implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine is a NATO resolution, however that it will be “one step too far” with a “actual threat of escalation and an actual threat of a doable third worldwide battle.”
