Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said that Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as “participation in the armed conflict.”
“These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war but thank God it has not come to that,” Putin said.
The Russian president said while speaking at a meeting with female pilots on Saturday.
Earlier, NATO refused to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “What is taking place now in Ukraine is horrific. It’s painful and we see human suffering, we see destruction on a scale we haven’t seen in Europe since the Second World War.”
But, he added: “We are not going to move into Ukraine, neither on the ground, nor in the Ukrainian airspace.”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had pushed NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country, condemned the decision.
Ukrainian forces holding key cities: President Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said Ukrainian forces were holding key cities in the central and southeastern part of the country Saturday, while the Russians were trying to block and keep encircled Kharkiv, Nikolaev, Chernihiv and Sumy.
“We’re inflicting losses on the occupants they could not see in their worst nightmare,” Zelenskyy said. He alleged that 10,000 Russian troops were killed in the 10 days of the war, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Russian military doesn’t offer regular updates on their casualties. Only once, on Wednesday, they revealed a death toll of nearly 500.
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“This is horrible,” Zelenskyy said. “Guys 18, 20 years old … soldiers who weren’t even explained what they were going to fight for.”
Russia’s flagship carrier announces halting all international flights starting March 8
Aeroflot, Russia’s flagship carrier, has announced that it will halt all international flights except to Belarus starting March 8.
The move by Russia’s biggest state-owned airline comes after the country’s aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya, recommended that all Russian airlines with foreign-leased planes halt both passenger and cargo flights abroad.
It cited a high risk of foreign-leased planes being impounded as part of Western sanctions that ban leasing of planes to Russia.
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China, Turkey call for resolution to Russia-Ukraine crisis
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Russia-Ukraine crisis could only be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. “It’s not a smooth thing but it should continue,” he said.
Protesters hold placards during a rally against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Athens on March 5, 2022. (Photo: AP)
In a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is deeply grieved to see the outbreak of conflict between Ukraine and Russia and “extremely concerned” over the damage done to civilians.
While, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman says the Turkish leader will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
“This war must be stopped immediately and there must be a return to the negotiating table,” Ibrahim Kalin told broadcaster NTV in Istanbul. He said Saturday that “our president will talk to Putin tomorrow.”
Russia-Ukraine’s third round of talks will be held in 1-2 days
The third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held in 1-2 days, the head of the Ukrainian delegation said on Saturday.
Russia, Ukraine second round of talks in Belarus on March 3.
During the second round of talks between the two sides, there appeared to have little common ground and Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine that it must quickly accept the Kremlin’s demand for its “demilitarization” and formally renounce its bid to join NATO.
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