ARIZONA NEWS

Sen. Mark Kelly says a no-fly zone over Ukraine would engage US, Russia in war

Mar 16, 2022, 9:24 AM | Updated: 10:16 am

The words "close the sky over Ukraine" is displayed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spea...

The words "close the sky over Ukraine" is displayed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the U.S. Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Zelenskyy appealed to the U.S. Congress to do more to help Ukraine's fight against Russia, but acknowledged the no-fly zone he has sought to "close the sky" over his country may not happen. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)

PHOENIX – Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona said the United States should continue to support Ukraine with resources as it battles an invasion from Russia, but he is not in favor of establishing a no-fly zone over the war-torn eastern European country.

“We would have to suppress the enemy air defenses – that means shooting missiles or dropping other ordnance on those surface-to-air missiles and that means engaging in direct combat actions with the Russian military. That’s what we’re trying to avoid here,” Kelly told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Wednesday.

But if Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops beyond Ukraine into a NATO nation, Kelly said, “That would constitute them going to war against NATO. … [America has] an Article 5 obligation as a member of NATO to defend other NATO countries.

“And I’d recommend to him that he does not do anything like that.”

Kelly later sat in Capitol chambers to watch Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s video appeal to Congress to do more to help as the escalating war closes in on three weeks.

President Joe Biden’s administration has stopped short of providing a no-fly zone or the transfer of military jets from neighboring Poland as the U.S. seeks to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia.

“Here’s what we’ve done,” said Kelly, who flew missions over Iraq in the early 1990s as a Navy fighter pilot. “Supported the Ukrainian military, the Ukrainian government, President Zelenskyy, who’s doing a fantastic job leading a besieged nation.

“We’re providing them the resources that they need to fight back.”

Already the Biden administration has sent Ukraine more than 600 Stinger missiles, 2,600 Javelin anti-armor systems, unmanned aerial system tracking radars; grenade launchers, 200 shotguns, 200 machine guns and nearly 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition, along with helicopters, patrol boats, satellite imagery and body armor, helmets, and other tactical gear, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“Just providing them with more aircraft at this point, I am not convinced that means they’re going to fly more sorties,” Kelly said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

woman cutting a sandwich in the back of house...

KTAR.com

Eligible Mesa small business owners can register for low-cost college courses

A new program in Mesa is expanding ways that small business owners can earn college credits. 

6 hours ago

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)...

Associated Press

Judge denies Phoenix request to extend clean up time at The Zone

A judge on Tuesday denied the city of Phoenix’s legal request seeking extra time to clean up the city’s largest homeless encampment.

10 hours ago

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is surrounded by staff, security and journalists as he walks to the Ho...

Brandon Gray

Kevin McCarthy out as speaker of the House: How Arizona representatives voted

In a 216-210 vote, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted off his post, making him the first in history to be removed from the role.

10 hours ago

(ADOT Photo)...

KTAR.com

ADOT uses updated technology to improve operation of freeway ramp meters

Updated technology has allowed the Arizona Department of Transportation to optimize the operation of its freeway ramp meters.

11 hours ago

Mug shots of Frank Avila, left, and Albert Valenzuela. The men were arrested after a Phoenix bus ro...

KTAR.com

1 man dead, 2 arrested after Phoenix bus robbery leads to hit-and-run collision

A man faces possible murder charges after a victim he allegedly tried to rob on a Phoenix bus was hit and killed by a vehicle while fleeing.

12 hours ago

...

KTAR Video

Video: What would it mean if the city of Phoenix entered into a “consent decree?”

Maricopa County Sherriff Paul Penzone announced Monday that he would not run for re-election and after bringing in a police chief following a national search, Mike Broomhead ponders what message the city of Phoenix would send by entering into a consent decree. Video: Jeremy Schnell and Felisa Cárdenas/KTAR News

16 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Sanderson Ford...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford congratulates D-backs’ on drive to great first half of 2023

The Arizona Diamondbacks just completed a red-hot first half of the major league season, and Sanderson Ford wants to send its congratulations to the ballclub.

...

re:vitalize

When most diets fail, re:vitalize makes a difference that shows

Staying healthy and losing weight are things many people in Arizona are conscious of, especially during the summer.

...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

5 mental health myths you didn’t know were made up

Helping individuals understand mental health diagnoses like obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder or generalized anxiety disorder isn’t always an easy undertaking. After all, our society tends to spread misconceptions about mental health like wildfire. This is why being mindful about how we talk about mental health is so important. We can either perpetuate misinformation about already […]

Sen. Mark Kelly says a no-fly zone over Ukraine would engage US, Russia in war