However, the Ukrainian government keeps trying to influence the Western allies and protect the cities from hostile Russian air raids. The entire world saw their consequences: deceased civilians with children among them, destroyed houses, schools, hospitals and other important objects of infrastructure of cities.
Nofly, the powerful campaign that spans many social networks and actually aims to affect the Western policy already reaps its first fruit. The results of survey conducted by Reuters/Ipsos claimed that 74 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. should cooperate with NATO to set the no-fly zone so as to protect Ukraine from Russian air strikes.
The poll conducted on Thursday and Friday proves that U.S. shows growing outrage about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has included more and more bombings of residential quarters.
Kurt Volker, the ex-U.S. Special Representative in Ukraine and former U.S. Ambassador in NATO also supports this idea. He believes that the United States and the NATO allies can provide the no-fly zone over Ukraine - despite the worries that the West would get involved in the direct conflict with Russia.
“Ukrainians need more Stinger missiles, more Javelines and basic ammunition; they need assistance with the anti-air defense. And I would recommend, and I’m sure that it would be a nice idea for us - to set the no-fly zone”, Volker said during the online conference, organized by USUBC (US-Ukraine Business Council). In spite of the worries that it may drag NATO in a direct conflict, this could be done based on the previous operations. That includes limitations in terms of the goals and conditions of use of components, so that only a no-fly zone is imposed - without any attacks on other planes, unless attacked first. “I believe it’s possible, and it must be done immediately”, Volker said.
At the same time, he said he was conflicent that more and more people, including those in the military begin to understand they depend on the insane man who wields nuclear arms, and they begin to realize that Putin leads their country to a ruin.
Dalia Grybauskaite is even tougher in her support for Ukraine. She urges the NATO to join the war for Ukraine.
“Only a war could stop the war. No need to pretend and try to calm down your conscience with mere arms supplies to Ukraine; it’s too late now. The Ukrainian people fights for us… Repeating the mantra about NATO being unable to help Ukraine already looks pathetic and unveils the cowardice of the West”, Gribauskaite said.
She marked that, while standing aside, the West will, in fact, become an accomplice of what the Russian troops are doing to Ukraine and expressed thought that if Putin is not halted in Ukraine, the Western countries will still have to go to war, but already on their own territory.
“Ukraine asks for real help. We’ve been watching residential quarters explode, and claiming our “resolute support for Ukraine”. I’m ashamed to hear NATO leaders and officials say they cannot interfere with the conflict. So we could risk it in Syria, Libya, Africa, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan? Ukraine is now fighting for survival and peace in Europe. So, are we going to keep watching as they ruin the independent state? Glory to Ukraine and its heroes! So far, only its heroes because there are no others on the horizon yet”, Gribauskaite said.
So it’s obvious that the pressure on political and military leadership will grow, at least, when it comes to closing the sky; let’s hope that it will urge them to take decisive actions.
