Any countries imposing no-fly zone over Ukraine party to conflict: Putin

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.