NATO divergence on no-fly zone over Ukraine
After the Poland blast, NATO allies seem to be divided over establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
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Flags of alliance members outside NATO headquartes. (AP)
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said, on Wednesday, that NATO allies will examine the possibility of establishing a no-fly zone above Ukraine after two missiles fell in Poland.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has convened an emergency meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels to investigate the explosion that occurred late Tuesday in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. Finland will also be present.
"Closing the airspace [above Ukraine] will definitely be discussed. Various options of how we can protect Ukraine are on the table," Haavisto told journalists.
On this issue, German Federal Government Deputy Spokesperson Wolfgang Buchner commented by saying: "The introduction of a no-fly zone is dangerous, as it will lead to a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. Together with all our partners in the alliance, we are unanimous in the opinion that we want to avoid a further escalation of the war in Ukraine."
Buchner’s remarks came shortly after Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak asked for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukrainian territory to “avert future tragedies”.
Earlier today, an initial investigation indicated, according to the Associated Press, citing US sources, that the missile that impacted Poland was launched by Ukrainian forces in response to an inbound Russian missile.
According to Reuters, US President Joe Biden stated that the missile that killed two in Poland was not fired by Russia.
On Wednesday, Biden summoned a meeting of leaders in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, to investigate the Poland missile incident, which they were concerned could mean the spill of the war into neighboring countries. Leaders from NATO members such as Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as non-member Japan and EU delegates also participated.
The EU, the Netherlands, and Norway said they were looking for further information, and Germany and Canada said they were keeping an eye on the issue. In addition to Britain conducting an "urgent" investigation into the allegation, French President Emmanuel Macron also requested a verification attempt.
