We won't risk World War III: Stoltenberg recalls rejecting no-fly zone over Ukraine

Stoltenberg recalled that Zelenskyy called him from a bunker in Kyiv when the city was under threat of a Russian advance. According to the former secretary general, the president asked to prohibit Russian planes, drones, and helicopters over Ukraine.

"I accept you’re not sending in NATO ground troops, though I disagree. But please close the airspace," Zelenskyy said at the time.

Back then, the Ukrainian president pointed out that NATO had previously been able to do similar operations.

Stoltenberg explained that closing the airspace over Ukraine was "impossible" because it would have required prior destruction of Russian air defense systems in Russia and Belarus. Otherwise, NATO aircraft could not operate safely in Ukrainian airspace.

He emphasized that if a Russian plane were shot down, NATO would effectively be in a direct military clash with Moscow. As former US President Joe Biden stated at the time, Western leaders were not ready to risk a full-scale war for Ukraine.

The former secretary general also admitted that during that conversation he feared it might be Zelenskyy's last call. At the same time, Stoltenberg considers the decision not to deploy NATO troops as correct but acknowledged that Western assistance to Ukraine was insufficient and delayed.

In his opinion, if Kyiv had received more military support earlier, a full-scale invasion might have been avoided — then Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would likely have realized that attacking an armed Ukraine was impossible.

As a reminder, Jens Stoltenberg left the post of NATO Secretary General in 2024 as his contract ended.

Stoltenberg was twice Prime Minister of Norway — in 2000–2001 and in 2005–2013. He also led NATO for ten years, including during Donald Trump's first term. Stoltenberg is an economist by education and had previously served as Norway’s Minister of Finance in 1996–1997.

For more details about who Stoltenberg is, read the RBC-Ukraine report.