Putin says it's 'impossible' to implement 'no-fly' zone, calls sanctions 'akin to a declaration of war'
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday dismissed the idea of imposing a "no-fly" zone over Ukraine, which Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy has been calling for.
"It's impossible to do it, any attempts by other countries to do it will be regarded as their participation in military conflict," Putin said Saturday while speaking to female pilots and stewardesses from Russia’s national airline Aeroflot.
Putin claimed that Ukrainian “neo-Nazis” were not allowing people to leave Ukrainian cities in order to use them as human shields. The Red Cross on Saturday confirmed that the evacuations were stopped because of Russian shelling.
Putin also commented on the sanctions the West imposed on Russia, calling them "akin to a declaration of war," but insisted that Russia could adapt and suggested the countries imposing them would reverse because it also hurt their interests.
On the invasion of Ukraine, Putin claimed again that it was going "according to plan, to schedule." He also claimed that Russia was only using professional soldiers, not conscripts in Ukraine and would continue to do so.
Talks with Ukraine are continuing, according to Putin, with Russia's key demand being the "de-militarization" of Ukraine.
Putin also made threatening comments about Ukraine's statehood.
"Especially those from today's leadership, should understand that if they continue doing what they are doing, they call into question the future of Ukrainian statehood. And if it happens it will be wholly and fully on their conscience," Putin said.
Putin said there is no current plan to implement martial law in Russia and would only do so in the case of “outside aggression” against specific regions of Russia.
Putin also suggested that Russia might try to block international airlines from flying over Siberia, which would disrupt international airlines trying to fly from Europe to Asia.
-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Somayeh Malekiah