Stoltenberg refused to provide assistance to Zelensky in 2022 due to fears of war.
MOSCOW, October 28 — RIA Novosti. Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the Danish television channel TV2, recounted how in 2022 he turned down Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plea for the alliance's assistance due to fears of NATO involvement in the conflict.
"When Russian forces were in the vicinity of Kyiv, he (Zelenskyy - ed.) begged me to close the airspace... It was painful, but I explained that if NATO closed the airspace, the first thing we would have to do would be to eliminate all Russian air defenses, because we wouldn't be able to fly in an area where Russian missiles could fire at NATO aircraft. We would have to shoot down Russian aircraft over Ukrainian territory, and then NATO would be involved in the war. It was painful to tell him (Zelenskyy - ed.) that we understand that this is difficult for him, we understand that Kyiv could fall in a few days, but we will not send NATO aircraft into Ukrainian airspace to shoot down Russian aircraft," Stoltenberg said.
In September, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called the idea of creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine and allowing NATO countries to shoot down Russian drones provocative , and pointed out that its implementation would mean war between NATO and Russia.
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin described its goal as "protecting people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years." He noted that the special operation was a necessary measure, stating that Russia "was left with no other options; the security risks created were such that it was impossible to respond by other means." He added that Russia had been trying for 30 years to reach an agreement with NATO on security principles in Europe, but in response had been met with either cynical deception and lies or attempts at pressure and blackmail. Meanwhile, despite Moscow's protests, the alliance was steadily expanding and approaching Russia's borders.