A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet
(Picture: AFP/Getty Images)Nato powers, Britain in particular, have been asked to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine – which presents them with an almost impossible dilemma. There have been guarantees of freedom of air space under various arrangements following the end of the Cold War in 1989. In particular there are three agreements of 1994, including the Budapest Memorandum by which Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in return for safety guarantees, which imply a protected free air space.
As Boris Johnson replied to an impassioned request from a woman who had just travelled to Poland from Kyiv, the imposition of a no-fly regime would involve “shooting down planes” and bring Nato into conflict with Russia. The war would spread across Europe.
