Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin suggested that the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine could provoke a war with Russia. He stated this on Wednesday, March 2, during an interview with the TV company NBC.
“Maintaining the no-fly zone would require contact with Russian aircraft. It would threaten us with war,” he said.
At the same time, Austin recalled that the President of the United States Joe Biden “made it clear” that American troops would not fight Russia in Ukraine.
“Russia still has a great combat potential. They have a set of options as to what to do next. [Президент РФ] Vladimir Putin can choose de-escalation, he can choose a diplomatic solution. We hope that he will do this, ”said the head of the US defense department.
Also, the United States Secretary of Defense stressed the need to avoid the use of nuclear weapons by any means.
“We don’t want to see that. Our position on this issue suits me completely, and I am sure that we can protect not only ourselves, but also our partners, ”said Austin.
Earlier on the same day, Andriy Yermak, head of the office of the Ukrainian president, confirmed that the closure of the sky over Ukraine could result in an escalation and direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
On March 1, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in a conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, announced the need to close the sky over Ukraine, explaining that the Ukrainian military would be able to resist the Russian Armed Forces on the ground.
On the same day, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson noted that NATO could not enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine because it would lead to a direct confrontation with Russia, and the consequences of this could get out of control. A similar position was expressed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Due to the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military, the Donetsk and Lugansk republics announced the evacuation of the civilian population to the Russian Federation and asked for recognition of independence. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding decree. On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass. As the press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov clarified, the special operation has two goals – the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. According to him, both of these aspects pose a threat to the Russian state and people.
Since 2014, the Ukrainian authorities have been conducting a military operation against the inhabitants of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup d’état and the new government in Ukraine.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
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