President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would consider any third–party declaration of a no–fly zone over Ukraine as participation in the war there,as Ukrainian officials blamed Russian shelling for breaching a cease–fire arranged in two cities to evacuate civilians.
Appearing on a staged question and answer session with Aeroflot cabin crew, Putin also scotched rumours that he was about to impose martial law on Russia for the first time since World War II, although he did not rule it out completely.
“Martial law can be imposed in the country according to the law, with a Presidential decree. It must be confirmed by the Federation Council in the event of external aggression, including where military action is taking place,” he said. “We are not in such a situation and I hope that it will not happen.”
The Russian defense ministry earlier said it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and the eastern city of Volnovakha.
“The Russian side is not holding to the cease–fire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area,” said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office.
“Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a cease–fire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.”
Russia breached the deal in Volnovakha as well, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told reporters. “We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing,” she said. Meanwhile, Moscow outlet RIA Novosti carried a Russian defense ministry claim that the firing came from inside both cities against Russian positions.
Mariupol, of 440,000 people, and Volnovakha, of 21,000 people, have been largely cut off water, heat, and electricity.
Ukraine’s defence minister is urging the West to impose a no-fly zone or risk nuclear Armageddon. He says fears a NATO no-fly zone could trigger nuclear war with Russia aren’t “convincing, since Russia has already started it”
If Eisenhower had supported Europe before the World War II, the United States would have never had Pearl Harbor. If the countries of the world imposed the same sanctions against Russia as today, a full-scale war would not have begun…
Earlier Ukraine’s president accused Nato of giving a “green light” to Russian bombing because the alliance refuses to impose a no-fly zone over his country.
Nato on Friday rejected Kyiv’s request to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid fears that it could drag Western countries into direct military conflict with Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky attacked the Nato gathering as “weak” and “confused” and said the alliance knew that further Russian aggression was likely.
