As the death toll climbs in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pleading with Western nations for a no-fly zone above Ukraine. But NATO and the United States have denied that request.

“Basically, a no-fly zone, if people understood what it means, it means World War III,” Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) told ABC. “It means starting World War III.”

Politico reported a compromise has been suggested which would entail a no-fly zone over the agreed upon humanitarian escape routes. In an open letter, more than two dozen foreign policy experts said the partial no-fly zone wouldn’t be there to attack Russian forces, but “to avert and deter Russian bombardment that would result in massive loss of Ukrainian lives.”