Zelensky says Biden personally ruled out a 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine as Russia attacks

Zelensky said that President Joe Biden personally told him that NATO or the US would not impose a no-fly zone over the country.

In an interview with CNN, the Ukrainian president reiterated his request that NATO countries impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine and deny Russia the ability to bring its superior air power to bear on Ukrainian defenders and civilians. Zelensky asked NATO to speed up its bid to include Ukraine.

Zelensky said that Russia does not want Ukraine to be in NATO, so they should work out security guarantees for the country.

The United States and other NATO countries have ruled out imposing a no-fly zone, which would require the NATO aircraft to monitor the airspace and intercept invaders, with the power to shoot them down if they don't withdraw. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that doing so would be a declaration of war on Russia.

That is definitely escalatory and could potentially put us in a military conflict with Russia. That is not something that President Joe Biden wants to do.

Several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, have asked for a no-fly zone. The leading Republican on the Senate's intelligence committee has ruled it out.

"That means the willingness to shoot down Russian aircraft, and that would mean World War III." said Marco Rubio on Monday.

The idea of imposing a no-fly zone has been rejected by the leaders of NATO.

The Ukrainian military has received weapons support from Biden. $350 million in weapons support has been approved in the past week. The German Chancellor promised to send anti-tank weapons and missiles to NATO.