Ukrainian President Urges No-Fly Zone To Stop Russian Bombing, US Doesn't Want To Get Into Direct Conflict

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy. (Wikimedia Commons/Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the West to consider imposing a no-fly zone for Russian aircraft over Ukraine after Moscow bombed the country's second-largest city.

Russia faces increasing international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine, and hours of negotiations between the two sides on Monday failed to reach a breakthrough to stop the fighting.

Ukrainian officials say Russian strikes in Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million people, have killed civilians, including children. In a video message, President Zelenskiy said it was time to block Russian missiles, planes, and helicopters from Ukrainian airspace.

"Fair negotiations can take place when one side does not hit the other side with rocket artillery during negotiations," President Zelenskiy said.

However, President Zelenskiy did not specify how and with whom the no-fly zone would be enforced.

Separately, the White House is trying to respond wisely to President Zelenskiy's insistence, which is to drag the United States directly into the current conflict, which is undesirable.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that imposing a no-fly zone would be a move to send US troops against Russia.

"The no-fly zone will require implementation," he said, adding it would require "the deployment of the US military to enforce, which would be a potential direct conflict, and potential war with Russia, which is something we don't plan to be a part of."

Asked separately about the no-fly zones for Russian flights in the United States, Psaki said there was nothing on the table, but he noted many US airlines fly over Russia to get to Asia and other parts of the world, another possible reason for the US reluctance.

"There is no choice on the table. We take into account various factors," said Psaki.