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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Zelenskyy needs to stop demanding a no fly zone

449 replies

WilsonMilson · 08/03/2022 13:33

The war is awful, it’s heartbreaking to see what is happening in Ukraine. Zelenskyy has been exceptionally brave, but his current rhetoric that ‘until a no fly zone is put in place that every death is on NATO’ is reckless.

A no fly zone means WW3. No one wins then, the whole world burns. He needs to stop blaming us for not getting into what would undoubtedly be a nuclear war with Russia. It is a terrible situation, but implementing a no fly zone would be crazy.

OP posts:
CushionSpiral · 08/03/2022 14:01

Easy to say a no fly zone means WW3, but if it was our country being torn apart, humanitarian corridors laced with land mines, of course we would be asking the world for help and the same thing. Shouting for help as loud as we could, so no he’s NBU to keep asking for help.

bonfireheart · 08/03/2022 14:02

if it was our country being torn apart
Considering the absolute drama some people made about wearing face masks, I'd hate to imagine how people in UK would behave if we were invaded, they'd be full on riots and looting and stealing and chaos.

tara66 · 08/03/2022 14:04

What has he got to lose at current time by saying/demanding/doing anything he likes? What is going to stop this war - not cautious rhetoric. Some people are saying this is already WW111.

PurpleHollyhocks · 08/03/2022 14:05

I actually can’t believe I have just read the OPs post and then a subsequent post accusing the president of emotional blackmail.
Did you do no history in school ?

Whether NATO should or shouldn’t enforce is up for discussion, it depends on how far NATO believe Putin will go and that is difficult to ascertain given how mad putin is or makes himself seem.

However, attacking zelenskyy for begging for help for his people is a new low

Knittingchamp · 08/03/2022 14:06

@WilsonMilson

The war is awful, it’s heartbreaking to see what is happening in Ukraine. Zelenskyy has been exceptionally brave, but his current rhetoric that ‘until a no fly zone is put in place that every death is on NATO’ is reckless.

A no fly zone means WW3. No one wins then, the whole world burns. He needs to stop blaming us for not getting into what would undoubtedly be a nuclear war with Russia. It is a terrible situation, but implementing a no fly zone would be crazy.

His country is being blown apart. His country is looking to him for hope and leadership. He should never stop protecting his country, and not should we if God forbid we ever find ourselves in the same situation.
NiLunNiLautre · 08/03/2022 14:07

@incognitoforthisone

Zelenskyy is a world leader whose country and people are being obliterated by an appalling, corrupt and quasi-fascist regime. If the Russians reach Kyiv he will almost certainly be murdered. His job is to ask for whatever might save Ukraine, in as vocal and persistent manner as possible, even if he knows it's unlikely to happen.

You, in contrast, are a random person sitting at a computer on a website where people argue about whether you should wear pyjamas in the day time and which type of soap is more hygienic and why their best friend has fallen out with them.

I don't think you're really in a position to be pontificating on what Zelenskyy should or shouldn't be asking for, are you? Perhaps come back when you've been the leader of a country on the brink of a genocide.

I do wish there was a ‘like’ button on MN sometimes!
Icemast · 08/03/2022 14:07

Technically a non NATO country could patrol the skies, but I don't think any have the capability or the appetite for resprucussions for doing so.

Theanswerisinthequestion · 08/03/2022 14:08

It's worth trying for.

MoonbeamSprinkles · 08/03/2022 14:08

Some people are saying this is already WW111

Some people might be saying that, but it’s not true.
Not in the way it could be anyway.

We are not currently in direct military conflict with Russia, as in we are not being bombed. That could change.

MoonbeamSprinkles · 08/03/2022 14:11

Technically a non NATO country could patrol the skies, but I don't think any have the capability or the appetite for resprucussions for doing so.

I was listening to a programme on radio four about no fly zones yesterday and they mentioned China as being a better bet to be asked as Russia wouldn’t be able to use it as an excuse for direct conflict with NATO.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 08/03/2022 14:11

@Loudhousefun

I completely agree with you OP, it feels a bit like emotional blackmail, I admire everything that Ukraine has done so far but it feels like he wants to drag the whole world under with him. It’s far to dangerous
Wtf is the matter with you? People like you are those who would have let Hitler continue because it didn't affect you. As long as it's not you in the firing line, who cares about all those innocent people being murdered? Of course he should ask, he knows it won't happen but he's asking and standing up for his country.
steff13 · 08/03/2022 14:14

@incognitoforthisone

Zelenskyy is a world leader whose country and people are being obliterated by an appalling, corrupt and quasi-fascist regime. If the Russians reach Kyiv he will almost certainly be murdered. His job is to ask for whatever might save Ukraine, in as vocal and persistent manner as possible, even if he knows it's unlikely to happen.

You, in contrast, are a random person sitting at a computer on a website where people argue about whether you should wear pyjamas in the day time and which type of soap is more hygienic and why their best friend has fallen out with them.

I don't think you're really in a position to be pontificating on what Zelenskyy should or shouldn't be asking for, are you? Perhaps come back when you've been the leader of a country on the brink of a genocide.

I think I love you.
mbosnz · 08/03/2022 14:15

He is desperately advocating for his country and its people. That's his job, right now.

thegcatsmother · 08/03/2022 14:15

A no fly zone would mean that drones couldn't be used for intelligence gathering. A no fly zone would not stop the ground attacks. Zelensky is right to ask, and NATO are right to refuse. NATO nations seem to be keeping Ukraine supplied with armaments etc, and until Russia either enters NATO airspace; fires upon a NATO nation, or sticks a toe on NATO ground, NATO cannot do anything.

PAFMO · 08/03/2022 14:15

@PurpleHollyhocks

I actually can’t believe I have just read the OPs post and then a subsequent post accusing the president of emotional blackmail. Did you do no history in school ?

Whether NATO should or shouldn’t enforce is up for discussion, it depends on how far NATO believe Putin will go and that is difficult to ascertain given how mad putin is or makes himself seem.

However, attacking zelenskyy for begging for help for his people is a new low

The comments are all copied and pasted from pro-Russian Twitter/Facebook shite.
Sebastianthecoo · 08/03/2022 14:17

Wow. Emotional blackmail that’s certainly a different view point. I’m going to assume your an ‘empath’ who is so worried about the people of Ukraine but your biggest worry is definitely ‘how will this affect me?’ Bet I’m not far off the mark.

You’ve got to wonder what Boris would do in the same situation. I’d guess he would be hauled up in his nuclear bunker with all the cheese and wine while we fight over toilet roll. Those people have lost EVERYTHING, their homes, jobs, loved ones. They have lost their place of safety. Damn right I’d be begging for everything if I was Zelensky.

inheritancetrack · 08/03/2022 14:18

@Lubeyboobyalt

YABU due to Putin being a cowardly bully who would absolutely not use his nukes. There is a long time understanding that using them means Armageddon. He won't want to rule over rubble and the starving. If no one stands up to him that sends the message that his pissy little threats work and Georgia and Moldova are next, and then god knows who.
Well we thought he was a big mouthed bully who wouldn't invade an independent country.

We were wrong then.

MoonbeamSprinkles · 08/03/2022 14:20

Putin would 100% use nukes

Why do people think he wouldn’t?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/08/russia-ukraine-war-possible-trajectories

CremeEggThief · 08/03/2022 14:20

Well outsiders can think like that. If you're in a kill or be killed mindset and you've got the responsibility of an entire country, you might think differently.

LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 08/03/2022 14:20

WWIII would mean that all around would be in danger of death - that land would be laid waste - that buildings would be blasted out of recognition... so EXACTLY what is happening in the cities of the Ukraine right now.

To the people there, WWIII has begun.

Our help (with no fly zone - military aid) might help them end it before everyone is dead and everything destroyed.

We are afraid that helping them would bring WWIII to our doorsteps too. We don't want Ukraine to lose - but we don't want our cities and our people to suffer as they are doing.

MrsHumphrieswife · 08/03/2022 14:21

@incognitoforthisone

Zelenskyy is a world leader whose country and people are being obliterated by an appalling, corrupt and quasi-fascist regime. If the Russians reach Kyiv he will almost certainly be murdered. His job is to ask for whatever might save Ukraine, in as vocal and persistent manner as possible, even if he knows it's unlikely to happen.

You, in contrast, are a random person sitting at a computer on a website where people argue about whether you should wear pyjamas in the day time and which type of soap is more hygienic and why their best friend has fallen out with them.

I don't think you're really in a position to be pontificating on what Zelenskyy should or shouldn't be asking for, are you? Perhaps come back when you've been the leader of a country on the brink of a genocide.

This is possibly the best post I have ever seen on this site.
TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/03/2022 14:22

I completely agree with you OP, it feels a bit like emotional blackmail

Did you really just write this? Did you see what is happening in Ukraine, and then write this?

ANameChangeAgain · 08/03/2022 14:22

@incognitoforthisone 🥂

Aprilx · 08/03/2022 14:22

I understand why NATO won’t agree, but I also don’t blame him for asking and I don’t blame him for how he asks either, millions of lives are in his hands.

ethelredonagoodday · 08/03/2022 14:23

@incognitoforthisone

Zelenskyy is a world leader whose country and people are being obliterated by an appalling, corrupt and quasi-fascist regime. If the Russians reach Kyiv he will almost certainly be murdered. His job is to ask for whatever might save Ukraine, in as vocal and persistent manner as possible, even if he knows it's unlikely to happen.

You, in contrast, are a random person sitting at a computer on a website where people argue about whether you should wear pyjamas in the day time and which type of soap is more hygienic and why their best friend has fallen out with them.

I don't think you're really in a position to be pontificating on what Zelenskyy should or shouldn't be asking for, are you? Perhaps come back when you've been the leader of a country on the brink of a genocide.

This. Spot on.