Russia not to propose no-fly zone over eastern Ukraine

Ukraine Crisis

MOSCOW - Russia said Wednesday it was not mulling a proposal to have the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) impose a no-fly zone in eastern Ukraine.

"At the current stage, we are not considering such an initiative," deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov told reporters, adding western countries would not back the proposal.

Russia submitted a draft resolution on Ukraine to the UNSC Monday, proposing talks to end the violence and create humanitarian corridors in that country.

"Unfortunately, our western partners did not support the Russian initiative, as they consider that there are no humanitarian problems in eastern Ukraine," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Gatilov as saying.

Authorities in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic called for a peacekeeping contingent and a no-fly zone on Tuesday, after the Ukrainian air force launched an air strike on the region's administration building, reportedly killing eight people.

Ukrainian media said battles in the Donetsk region on Tuesday killed at least 300 militants and injured 45 government soldiers, citing special forces spokesperson Vladislav Seleznyov.

Russia has repeatedly said a humanitarian catastrophe was haunting Ukraine, while Kiev has accused Moscow of inciting unrest in its southeastern regions.