NATO chief declines to give chemical weapons redline in Russia-Ukraine war

NATO Secretary-Common Jens Stoltenberg sidestepped answering whether or not Russia doubtlessly utilizing chemical weapons in its invasion of Ukraine would spur NATO to rethink imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine. 

“It does sound like what you are saying is you do not have a solution but on what using chemical weapons would do to NATO’s stance about Ukraine,” “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd informed Stoltenberg Sunday morning. 

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“Any use of chemical weapons will likely be a blatant and brutal violation of worldwide legislation – the ban on using chemical weapons. On the identical time we all know that Russia has used chemical brokers in Europe earlier than towards their very own political opponents,” Stoltenberg informed Todd. 

“So that is one thing we take extraordinarily critical. However on the identical time once more, we’re not … we’re very a lot conscious of that we have to act in a approach that stops this battle from being a really bloody, ugly, horrific battle in Ukraine to one thing that seems to be a full-fledged warfare between NATO and Russia in Europe,” he added. 

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Todd had requested if Russia doubtlessly utilizing chemical weapons would immediate NATO to rethink imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Stoltenberg stated that the intergovernmental navy alliance’s focus is to guard the 1 billion folks residing in NATO-allied nations. 

“We’re doing that by rising the presence within the jap a part of the alliance. I additionally imagine that no matter how this battle now ends, we’re confronted with a brand new actuality, a brand new safety actuality, the place Russia extra overtly contests core values for safety and are prepared to make use of navy drive to realize its aims. And due to this fact we have to reset our deterrence and protection,” he stated, noting leaders will focus on additional at a gathering in Brussels this week. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly referred to as on overseas leaders to impose a no-fly zone over his nation. Stoltenberg and different world leaders, nonetheless, have to date rejected imposing a no-fly zone, citing the transfer might escalate to an all-out warfare in Europe. 

On this picture from video offered by the Home Tv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, as he addresses just about addresses Congress on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. 
(Home Tv through AP)

“The one strategy to implement a no-fly zone is to ship NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace, after which impose that no-fly zone by capturing down Russian planes,” Stoltenberg stated earlier this month “We perceive the desperation, however we additionally imagine that if we did that, we’d find yourself with one thing that might finish in a full-fledged warfare in Europe.” 

The U.S. adheres to a coverage reaching again to the Chilly Battle of not having direct, kinetic engagement with Russia. A no-fly zone would danger a direct navy battle with the nation and has the potential of escalating to a 3rd world warfare, pitting nuclear energy nations such because the U.S., France and the U.Okay. towards fellow nuclear energy Russia.