Any country imposing Ukraine no-fly zone to face Russia’s wrath: Putin

Says such zone would have catastrophic consequences for whole world: Israeli PM holds talks with Putin in Moscow: Zelensky asks Biden for more support

By: AFP
Published: 07:38 AM, 6 Mar, 2022
Any country imposing Ukraine no-fly zone to face Russia’s wrath: Putin
Caption: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.–AFP
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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that any country imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered by Moscow to have entered the conflict, while threatening his ex-Soviet neighbour's continued existence.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with the West to support a no-fly zone as his besieged country resists Moscow's invasion, but allies have so far ruled out such a move, fearing it would escalate into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia.

Putin warned that a no-fly zone would have "colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world".

"Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country," the Russian leader said during a meeting with employees of national airline Aeroflot.

He also suggested Ukraine could lose its statehood if it continues along this path. 

"The current (Ukrainian) authorities must understand that if they continue to do what they are doing, they are putting in question the future of Ukrainian statehood. And if this happens, they will be fully responsible," he said.

With Moscow's military incursion in its second week, the economic and humanitarian toll of the war has spiralled, sending civilians fleeing both Ukraine and Russia.

But Putin dismissed rumours that the Kremlin was planning to declare martial law in Russia.

"Martial law should only be introduced in cases where there is external aggression ... we are not experiencing that at the moment and I hope we won't," he said. 

Israel PM in 'risky' diplomatic gamble

Israel's premier stepped into the role of mediator Saturday as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified, holding a three-hour meeting at the Kremlin with Vladimir Putin before calling Ukraine's president and flying to Berlin. 

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's sit-down with Putin was the first by a foreign leader since the day Russian forces invaded Ukraine last week, and came after Kyiv had asked Israel to launch a dialogue with Moscow. 

Bennett has so far walked a cautious line on the Ukraine conflict, seeking to preserve delicate security cooperation with Russia, which has a large military presence in Israel's northern neighbour, Syria. 

Bennett has not joined Western leaders -- notably key ally the United States -- in forcefully condemning the invasion, instead stressing Israel's strong relations with both Russia and Ukraine.

After his meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two agreed their aim was to "end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible", the German's spokesman said in a statement early on Sunday.

At the end of a whirlwind diplomatic tour, Bennett spoke twice with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and once with the French President Emmanuel Macron, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Ahead of the trip, Bennett had spoken by telephone repeatedly with both Putin and Zelensky -- who is Jewish, has family in Israel and has visited the country many times. 

"Bennett's action is bold but also risky. Much will depend on Putin's state of mind," Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to Washington, told AFP.

https://twitter.com/UkraineWarRuss1/status/1500189434901266432

Oren noted that while Putin rebuffed heavyweight diplomatic outreaches before the invasion, "Russia is in a different position today and Putin may be looking for a way out of his predicament. Naftali Bennet just may supply the ladder."

- Travel on Shabbat -
Bennett's office said he left Israel for Moscow early Saturday, itself an extraordinary move for a religious Jew who does not conduct state business on the Jewish sabbath, except in extraordinary circumstances.

Bennett and Putin met for three hours, in a visit that was coordinated with the US, Germany and France, an Israeli official said.

Bennett's delegation included housing minister Zeev Elkin, a fluent Russian speaker who was born in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union. 

The Kremlin said "different aspects of the situation in Ukraine" were discussed at the meeting.

The top editor at the Times of Israel, David Horovitz, said Bennett's trip had "extraordinarily high stakes".

The premier's "insistence on attempting the almost impossible -- trying to maintain not neutral but warm relations with both sides in a war -- is threatening to exasperate the US and has the potential to deeply harm Israel's standing in the free world," Horovitz said Saturday. 

Quoting an unnamed source, prominent Israeli reporter Barak Ravid tweeted that the White House told Israel it doubted "Bennett's chances to influence Putin's position".

- Iran -
The Bennett-Putin talks also "touched upon the progress of the (Iran) nuclear talks in Vienna," the Israeli official said. 

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency said earlier Saturday after talks in Tehran that they agreed on an approach to resolve issues crucial in efforts to revive the country's 2015 nuclear deal.

Bennett is a staunch opponent of global efforts to revive the agreement which gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. 

The premier has argued that Tehran will use the revenue boost from the lifting of sanctions to buy weapons that can harm Israel, while still pursuing a nuclear weapons capability, an ambition Iran denies. 

Russia, which has itself been slapped with Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, said Saturday that it would seek guarantees from Washington before backing any revived agreement, complicating efforts for a rapid deal.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had requested that the US give it written guarantees that Ukraine-related sanctions "will not in any way harm our rights to free, fully-fledged trade and economic and investment cooperation, military-technical cooperation with Iran".

There was no immediate comment on any link between the new Russian position and Bennett's visit. 

Zelensky asks Biden for more support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he spoke by phone with his US counterpart Joe Biden to discuss financial support and sanctions against Russia as his country faces an intensifying onslaught.

"As part of the constant dialogue, I had another conversation with @POTUS," Zelensky tweeted. "The agenda included the issues of security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia." 

In a readout on the half-hour call, the White House said Biden had emphasised steps his administration and allies have taken "to raise the costs on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine". 

He also highlighted efforts by private companies, such as payment giants Visa and MasterCard, to freeze out Moscow by suspending operations in the wake of the February 24 invasion. 

Hours earlier, the Ukrainian leader had addressed US lawmakers by video call, pleading for further assistance to his besieged country and a blacklisting of Russian oil imports. 

The American legislators promised an additional $10 billion aid package, but the White House has so far ruled out an oil ban, fearing it would ratchet up prices and hurt US consumers already stung by record inflation. 

Weapons, ammunition and funds have poured into Ukraine from Western allies, which have also imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow.

Washington last week authorised $350 million of military equipment for Kyiv -- the largest such package in US history. 

While visiting Ukrainian refugees on the Polish border over the weekend, US Secretary of State Antony said that Washington was seeking $2.75 billion to help address the humanitarian crisis unfolding as nearly 1.4 million civilians flee.

Canada urges citizens to leave Russia

Canada called Saturday on its nationals to avoid all travel to Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine and on Canadians in Russia to leave the country. 

In an update to its travel advice, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that its nationals "avoid all travel to Russia due to the impacts of the armed conflict with Ukraine."

"If you are in Russia, you should leave while commercial means are still available," the statement added.

Ottawa had previously advised its citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Russia.

In the travel advisory, the ministry said that sanctions on Moscow and Russia's response "may have an important impact on the availability and the provision of essential service. Flight availability is becoming extremely limited."

The ministry also noted that Russia had passed a law on March 4 that "severely restricts free speech."

The legislation punishes the publication of what it calls "fake news" about its invasion with jail terms of up to 15 years.

Foreign journalists and other media workers in the country "may face considerable risks," the advisory said.

Ottawa urged Canadians in Russia to refrain from discussing the invasion, participating in protests or sharing or publishing information related to current events in Russia and Ukraine.

Canadians who wished to stay in Russia despite the travel advisory were warned they might have to stay "longer than expected" and could be affected by shortages of essential products and services.

They also ran the risk of being unable to use their bank cards, and "should not depend on the Government of Canada to help you leave the country."

Canada, which has already levied many economic sanctions on Russia, "will continue to impose punitive sanctions on Putin and the oligarchs" so that they understand their "monumental error," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, while announcing a European trip. 

Trudeau is due to leave Ottawa on Sunday to travel to London, Riga, Berlin and Warsaw to discuss support for Ukraine.

Latest developments
Here are the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine:

- Ceasefire collapses -
Russia resumes its offensive against the besieged southeastern city of Mariupol after a ceasefire agreed to allow the evacuation of civilians breaks down. Each side blames the other.

Officials in Mariupol had announced plans for a large-scale evacuation during the ceasefire but later said they had to postpone the operation in the face of continued Russian shelling.

Russia accused Ukrainian forces in Mariupol of blocking residents from leaving.

MSF warns that the humanitarian situation in the city is "catastrophic" and that it is "imperative" to set up a humanitarian corridor.

- Nearing Kyiv -
Russian forces inch closer to the capital Kyiv from the north and west.

AFP witnesses scenes of widespread destruction in the northern town of Chernihiv, where dozens of civilians have been killed in shelling, missile attacks and air raids.

- Putin warning to NATO -
Russian President Vladimir Putin warns of "colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world" if foreign powers attempt to establish a no-fly zone in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to NATO to set up a no-fly zone but NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg rejected the call, saying it could lead to a wider war in Europe.

- No ticket out -
Russian flagship airline Aeroflot says it is suspending all its international flights beginning March 8, except to neighbouring Belarus.

The move compounds the international isolation of Russia, which is already being shunned by foreign airlines and travel operators.

- Media blackout -
A host of international broadcasters, including the BBC, CNN, Italy's RAI and Germany's ARD and ZDF, say they will stop reporting from Russia after it passed a law punishing the publication of what it calls "fake news" about its invasion with jail terms of up to 15 years.

Award-winning independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta says it will also stop reporting on the war in Ukraine in light of the new law.

- Nuclear plant fire -
A fire at Europe's biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia is put out, with Ukraine accusing Russia of "nuclear terror" in shelling the plant.

Russian troops later take over the site, which generates a fifth of Ukraine's electricity.

- More talks planned -
One of Ukraine's negotiators says a third round of talks with Russia on ending the fighting will take place on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Moscow is ready for dialogue over Ukraine if all its demands are met.

- 'Not over soon' -
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that the war in Ukraine "may not be over soon" and that the US and European allies must sustain tough pressure on Russia until it ends.

- Russia isolated -
Russia is more isolated than ever after a historic vote at the UN Human Rights Council for a probe into violations committed during the war on Ukraine, with only Eritrea siding with Moscow.

- More than 1.37 million flee -
More than 1.37 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia invaded last week, the UN says.

- Hunger threat -
The United Nations' World Food Programme warns about a looming food crisis in Ukraine in conflict areas, while disruptions in production and exports could lead to food insecurity globally.

- Senior imam appeals for peace -
The grand imam of the Al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, calls for more international humanitarian aid for Ukraine and for greater efforts to end the war.

"We are witnessing Ukrainian civilians leave their homes in quest of safety and security, which is a true test of our humanity," the top Sunni Islam cleric declares, in a series of tweets in Ukrainian, Arabic and English.

Categories : Ukraine War

AFP

Agence France-Presse is an international news agency.

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