NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Alliance's allies agree that its planes should not fly in Ukraine's airspace and that its troops should not be present on the ground in Ukraine during its conflict with Russia, despite pleas from Kyiv to enforce a no-fly zone over the country.
Stoltenberg posted the video on his Twitter account.
Speaking in Brussels on March 4 after meeting with foreign ministers from NATO members, Stoltenberg admitted that Russia is likely to intensify its attack on Ukraine, which began on February 24, with the coming days "likely to be worse."
Diplomatic language and financial and other sanctions have hardened amid mounting civilian and other casualties and huge refugee flows from Putin's invasion.
“NATO is not part of the conflict,” alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of the meeting. “We do not seek war, conflict with Russia. At the same time, we need to make sure there is no misunderstanding about our commitment to protect all allies.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed that NATO "seeks no conflict" but is "ready for it."
NATO foreign ministers also believe that they are responsible for ensuring that the war does not go beyond Ukraine, while they do not expect war with the Russian Federation.
The Alliance is going to expand cooperation with Finland and Sweden, and both countries will take part in all NATO meetings.
It's worth noting that the petition to the North Atlantic Alliance to close the airspace over Ukraine has already reached 108% of the votes. Citizens from around the world vote for the consideration of the petition.