The designation of a no-fly zone over Ukrainian skies, as President Volodymyr Zelensky fervently calls for, is a “red line that cannot be crossed,” Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said on Tuesday. .
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“We are always willing to look at different scenarios right now because we know the people of Ukraine need help. Canada will always lead discussions to find creative solutions, but at this stage, based on the information we have, there is a red line that we cannot cross, ”said Ms. Joly following the incident. exceptional address by the Ukrainian President to the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday.
The Minister reiterated that Canada’s objective, like that of its allies, was to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from degenerating into a Third World War.
As the invasion is about to enter its fourth week and the Russian army continues its advance towards the capital of Kyiv, the Ukrainian president took advantage of his speaking time in Ottawa to demand the imposition of this measure deemed by several experts as being extremely risky considering the risks of escalation.
“Can you imagine calling your friends and asking them to close the skies, close the airspace, stop the bombing? How many more cruise missiles will have to fall on our cities before you get there? And in return, they express their deep concerns about the situation and say “please hold on, hold on for a little longer”, “said Mr. Zelensky.
A no-fly zone would prevent Russian planes from flying over Ukrainian skies. A violation of this airspace could provoke a military response by NATO.
The allied members of the organization have refused, to date, to go ahead with this option.
Many European countries, in addition to Canada and the United States, have banned Russian planes from crossing their skies.
Mélanie Joly said that her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, with whom she speaks regularly, has asked Canada to send arms and impose “extremely severe sanctions”.
“Why? Because certainly, it helps Ukraine to defend itself, but it also helps Ukraine at the negotiating table,” argued Ms. Joly.
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Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com