West’s sanctions ‘a declaration of war’: Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin warns Europe and the world that a no-fly zone will have ‘colossal and catastrophic consequences’.

Ihor Mazhayev at his destroyed house in Markhalivka, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

Vladimir Putin has equated global sanctions imposed over his ­invasion of Ukraine with a ­“declaration of war”, and warned that any enforcement of a no-fly zone over his besieged neighbour would have “colossal and catastrophic consequences”.

The Russian President issued the double-pronged threat after Russian artillery pummelled the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in ­violation of a ceasefire to allow ­civilians to escape.

With fears growing of direct conflict between Western forces and Russia – both nuclear-armed – the US and Moscow set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of “miscalculation”. Russian forces attacked and seized ­Europe’s largest nuclear plant at ­Zaporizhzhia on Friday, pushing Kyiv to accuse Moscow of ­“nuclear terror”.

As the invasion entered its 11th day, Mr Putin warned on Sunday that a no-fly zone would have “colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world”.

“Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country,” the Russian leader said during a meeting with employees of national airline Aeroflot, which announced it was halting all international flights from Tuesday as more foreign airlines suspended operations in and out of Russia following European and US sanctions.

A woman carries a dog while crossing a destroyed bridge as Ukrainians evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing over the weekend. Picture: AFP

In the latest efforts to freeze Moscow out of the global economy, US-based card payment ­giants Visa and MasterCard announced they would suspend ­operations in Russia.

Hitting out at stiffening Western sanctions, Mr Putin said: “A lot of what we’re coming up against right now is a way of waging war against Russia.

“The sanctions against Russia are akin to a declaration of war. But thank god we’re not at that point yet.”

He also dismissed rumours that the Kremlin was planning to declare martial law in Russia.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that Mr Putin wanted to “bring back a reunited USSR” and that over-running Ukraine could be just a first step in that goal. He also raised concern that Mr Putin would use “chemical weapons”.

Responding to calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a no fly-zone to be enforced by Western allies to stop Russian airstrikes, Mr Dutton warned such a move could lead to a nuclear conflict. “It would definitely help if it didn’t lead to a ­nuclear conflict; that’s clearly what everyone within NATO, the United States, every peace-loving country around the world would seek,” he told ABC TV’s Insiders program on Sunday.

A family crosses the railway line in Lviv as they flee Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

“He is holding out slightly veiled language, the threat of stepping up a nuclear conflict and that would be really catastrophic for Europe and the world.

“What is very clear to us is that President Putin has a view of erasing history and of conquering those countries around him and bringing back a reunified USSR, that’s very clearly his intent.”

Mr Dutton said Australia would continue “providing support” to Ukraine in the hope of defeating the Russian forces and “have them turn back and go back to their own country and allow peace”.

“Our desire is to see the Ukrainians exact a very significant cost on Russians both in terms of reputation and their so called military might,” he said.

But he said there was “a sense of inevitability” for Russia to ratchet up its attacks in Ukraine.

“When you look at the sheer numbers and also the propensity for Putin to use chemical weapons or other weapons which would be used in a residential areas, you just can’t imagine it, it would be a war crime,” he said.

Mr Zelensky railed against NATO’s failure to set up a no-fly zone and appealed to US senators for more help and a ban on Russian oil imports. The White House is exploring a deal in which ­Poland would send Soviet-era aircraft to Ukraine in return for American F-16 jet fighters.

Mr Zelensky accused NATO of giving Russia a “green light” to bombard his country a day after the alliance ruled out imposing a no-fly zone: “All the people who will die starting from this day will also die because of you,” he thundered in a Saturday video address from Kyiv. Because of your weakness, because of your disunity.”

While visiting Ukrainian refugees on the Polish border, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was seeking $US2.75bn ($3.73bn) for the unfurling humanitarian crisis as 1.4 million civilians have fled.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a surprise visit to the Kremlin for three hours of talks – Mr Putin’s first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since the invasion began. The ­Israeli leader later spoke with Mr Zelensky. Kyiv had asked Israel, which has strong relations with Russia and Ukraine, to launch a dialogue with Moscow.

The evacuation from the southern port city of Mariupol was suspended minutes after it began on Saturday morning, forcing civilians back into hiding as Russia disregarded the agreement and continued its bombardment

Further north, Russia continued its three-pronged advance on Kyiv, shelling residential areas south of the capital for the first time late on Saturday.