Putin warns no-fly zone over Ukraine will be seen as act of war

Vladimir Putin has warned the West that he would regard any no-fly zone over Ukraine as an act of war against Russia.

Talking on Russian TV to employees of Russian airline Aeroflot, Putin said that if countries wanted to impose no-fly zones, they should do so over their own territory and not over Ukraine.

"Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country," he said.

Ukrainians have been asking NATO to impose a no-fly zone but NATO leaders, wary of a potential clash with the Russian air force, have steered away from it.