NATO Won’t Risk Broader Russia War With a Ukraine No-Fly Zone

(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is stepping up his calls for a no-fly zone as his country faces escalating Russian bombardment of key cities and strategic sites, but the NATO military alliance says it can't support one.

“We understand the desperation, but we also believe that if we did that we would end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe, involving many more countries and causing much more human suffering,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after a ministerial meeting in Brussels on Friday. “That's the reason why we make this painful decision.”

Earlier Friday Zelenskiy called on Europe to “wake up,” after Ukraine said shelling in the area that houses the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had caused a fire. “Russian tanks are firing at the nuclear power station, the biggest one in Europe,” he added. “Only urgent Europe actions can stop Russian troops.”

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The pleas put the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in a difficult spot, given its position that it is purely a defensive alliance. While it has sent troops and equipment further east to reinforce countries closer to Russia, it has made clear it would not send troops into Ukraine.

Policing a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace would force its aircraft to directly confront Russian planes, risking drawing it into an open conflict that spirals further into Europe. The prospect of a war that extends beyond Ukraine's borders is something that states in Eastern Europe are highly anxious about.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said NATO allies need to “keep a cool head.”

“It's completely clear for us that NATO will play no part in this conflict,” Scholz said during a visit to an army base near Berlin. “What we're doing is making sure together that nobody attacks NATO territory.”

Allies are also concerned that NATO does not have the means to close the skies above Ukraine, given Russia's strong military capabilities.

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said the “red line” was to make sure there was no international conflict triggered from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and “obviously this is something that we take into account in taking our decisions.”

NATO has enforced a no-fly zone before, including over Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1993. But while a zone over Ukraine airspace would have defensive effects, it would also likely involve allied planes shooting at Russian aircraft, NATO officials say.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn questioned who would be able to control a no-fly zone. “We need to keep our feet on the ground and keep up the pressure we've been imposing.”

There's also the concern that escalation between NATO and Russia could heighten tensions on the nuclear front.

Stoltenberg, in a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, called Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to raise the alert level of his nuclear forces “reckless” and “irresponsible.” The military alliance has not raised its own alert level.

“NATO is not part of the conflict,” Stoltenberg told reporters on Friday. “NATO is a defensive alliance, we don't seek war, conflict with Russia.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis suggested the United Nations Security Council discuss agreement for a “safe zone” around nuclear plant sites where no military action could happen.

“I would like to hear that debate because Russia is still a member of the Security Council,” Landsbergis said. “It has to object to the safety of nuclear power plants in the Security Council and I would like to hear the arguments with which they would object.”