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 by the U.S. and NATO to be equivalent to a declaration of war against Russia, risking a dangerous escalation of the conflict with potential for greater suffering.
NATO is actively working to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond Ukraine's borders, citing concerns that direct intervention could lead to a full-fledged war between NATO and Russia.
Instead of a no-fly zone, NATO allies are providing Ukraine with significant ground-based security assistance, including anti-aircraft systems, drones, anti-armor missiles, and ammunition, to help them defend their skies 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.