Ambassador Gonchar Calls No-Fly Zone Plans Over Ukraine Dangerous
Russian envoy Denis Gonchar cautioned that proposals for a NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine risk direct confrontation with Moscow, urging Brussels to avoid escalation.
Russia’s ambassador to Brussels, Denis Gonchar, described calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine as dangerous. He warned that such proposals only heighten tensions along NATO’s eastern borders.
The diplomat noted that some Western politicians have already suggested going beyond monitoring the situation by establishing a no-fly zone and authorizing NATO forces to shoot down Russian drones.
Gonchar told RIA Novosti that these ideas amounted to direct incitement toward a military clash between the alliance and Russia. He expressed hope that Brussels would show enough restraint to prevent the already tense situation from escalating further.
The debate intensified after an incident involving drones, though no evidence was presented to confirm their Russian origin. Against this backdrop, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski floated the idea of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying such a move could only be taken in coordination with NATO partners.