Russian airlines cannot operate either. Not just because they are not allowed in almost everyone's airspace. But because they cannot maintain their planes, not just Aurbuses and Boeings, but even the supposedly Russian-produced ones - the Sukhoi Superjet parts distribution logistics operation is run through Lufthansa Technik, now offline with EU sanctions. Also most of their planes are not owned but leased - and all the leases are terminated by the end of March.
Zelensky said to POTUS that without help they cannot hold off Russia. If you miss the facts, you are inclined to be blindsided. Ukraine has a very good chance of losing big.
Unprovoked? CIA director literally told Biden 6 months ago that letting Ukraine join NATO would be drawing a big red line in the sand(or something to that effect). Also this is very similar to the cuban missile crisis. We threatened military action just like Putin did, and luckily everyone backed off and met each others demands. But USA & Europe basically said "Ukraine is joining NATO and we're going to put our armies at your border...come at me bro" USA and Europe are literally provoking this war and with the world now refusing to do business with any Russians, why the hell wouldn't they use maximum force now. If we're lucky Putin will conquer Ukraine quickly and we'll all go back to business as usual in 6 months. If another country attacks Ukraine, expect the nukes to come out.
Of course they do. Without popular support, public and private sanctions and opinions against Russian interests (including protests inside Russia) wouldn't be as severe. The Russians probably didn't want things to go like this:
Putin is a war criminal. If he survives his own people Russia will win and become an outcast much like North Korea. Ukraine is now seeing attacks on civilian areas. Ukraine is courageously defending against a powerful bully. The Turks have turned on the Russians and even the Swiss have condemned the Russian aggression. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...es-the-dardanelles-and-bosphorus-to-warships/