Lacking sufficient anti-aircraft systems to repel Russia’s unrelenting attacks, Ukraine is pushing its European allies to establish a no-fly zone in the west of the country by deploying air defense systems in neighboring Poland and Romania, officials told AFP.

On Thursday, Lithuania’s parliament unanimously passed a resolution urging for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, joining its fellow Baltic state Estonia in calling for the action, which would require shooting down Russian planes and bombing anti-aircraft missiles inside Russia.

Zelensky was greeted in his virtual address with standing ovations by a full body of lawmakers from the House and Senate before before and after the speech. It was broadcast live on all major US networks, and as fully expected he made an emotional appeal for a US-backed No Fly Zone over Ukraine to stop Russia.

Estonia is the first NATO member nation to have a body formally call for the implementation of a no-fly zone amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.

"We are not part of this conflict, and we have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ukraine’s president has called upon the United States and other NATO allies to establish a no-fly zone over his country to prevent Russian bombardment, but the U.S. government has made abundantly clear that it will not be drawn into a conflict with Russia.