5 Things To Know About the Call for a No-Fly Zone in Ukraine

This week, Ukraine's president asked members of Congress to establish a no-fly zone against Russia. Here's why that won't happen.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, March 18, 2022 at 05:17 PM ET

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A no-fly zone declaration would require shooting down Russian aircraft like this Sukhoi Su-25. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine is considered a declaration of war against nuclear-armed Russia, as it would require NATO forces to directly engage Russian aircraft.
NATO fears that enforcing a no-fly zone would significantly escalate the conflict across Europe, leading to increased human suffering and a full-fledged war between NATO and Russia.
Instead of direct air intervention, the U.S. and NATO allies are providing substantial military aid, including ground-based air defense systems and other weaponry, to help Ukraine defend its airspace and territory.

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As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth week, the world continues to ask what can be done to stop the brutal onslaught against innocent civilians.

This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a direct appeal to members of Congress to help “close the sky over Ukraine,” including establishing a no-fly zone. Here’s what that request really means for the U.S. and other NATO countries.