“Drop missiles over our country”: Ukraine wants Western partners to deploy their air defenses against Russian missiles

Request a “no-fly zone” at the beginning of the war

This is not the first time that the Ukrainian president has requested military assistance to keep his airspace safe. In the early days of the war, Zelensky wanted NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

In a military context, a no-fly zone is primarily intended to prevent military aircraft from carrying out air strikes or surveillance missions. Naturally, this no-fly zone must of course be imposed militarily by attacking or even shooting down aircraft that do not adhere to the no-fly zone with anti-aircraft guns or fighter aircraft.

Thus, a no-fly zone over Ukraine imposed by NATO could lead to NATO forces firing on Russian aircraft and possibly shooting them down. On the other hand, it would give the Ukrainian armed forces a fairer chance against the Russians. Although you cannot, for example, stop missile attacks through this no-fly zone.

NATO refused to respond to the “no-fly zone” request for fear of escalation, angering Zelensky. “NATO leaders have given the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and towns by refusing to declare a no-fly zone,” he said in 2022.