Scholz: No intention for NATO to join military events in Ukraine

• 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed that NATO has no intention of joining the military conflict in Ukraine.

During a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Scholz announced that "I would like to be very clear and I would say that NATO will not intervene militarily in this war."

On Friday, Stoltenberg said Ukraine's joining of NATO is irrelevant and not "on the agenda for the near future."

Zelensky has repeatedly urged NATO and Western allies for more support, addressing the US Congress yesterday.

"Is this a lot to ask for to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save people? If this is too much to ask, we offer an alternative. You know what kind of defense systems we need - S-300 and other similar systems," he told the US legislative body.

US, allies comply

The United States and its NATO allies are sending surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine, including Soviet-era systems, such as the SA-8 and the SA-12 systems, CNN reported Wednesday, citing a senior US official.

The systems have a higher engagement altitude than the Stinger shoulder-held missiles the US had sent Kiev.

The systems are "on the way" to Ukraine, the official added.

However, despite Washington revealing that it was delivering SA systems, a US representative told CNN that S-300 defense systems are in the country.

Kiev had made an admission that establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as Russia's special military operation in the country continues could potentially lead to a direct war between the Russian Federation and NATO, according to Andriy Yermak, head of Volodymyr Zelensky's office. However, it was still reiterating the plea for the action.

Ukraine has long been asking NATO and the United States to impose a no-fly zone in its airspace, but Brussels and Washington have dismissed the requests.

In addition to NATO, Biden had already been exceedingly clear that no American forces will fight in Ukraine, including in the country's sky.