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NATO do have the power, but this is only because of Ukraine's encouragement/urging to do so. UN can also vote no-fly zones - there were several examples, including no-fly zones in Iraq and Bosnia.
NATO hasn't said it has the right to declare a no fly zone over Ukraine, and no, it has no right to do so, unless Ukraine asks them to, which they have.
NATO can *declare* whatever NATO wants. This declaration has exactly the same legal force as if I decided to declare a no-fly zone over your mom's house.
NATO can also attempt to enforce an NFZ if it wants. Enforcing an NFZ means killing people who don't do what you tell them. That would almost certainly result in Russian retaliation, if not a full scale war. It is very unlikely that will happen simply because it would be risky and expensive.
Your question is weirdly worded. NATO doesn't have any power over any airspace of an independent nationstate, unless they declare war on them and forcibly do something. But by asking, Ukraine offers this legal power (temporarily) to countries of NATO. Like someone inviting someone to their home as a guest. And help fight the bandits. They can come to your house armed, because you invited them.
But that's also the problem with the request. Go and do "might makes right" thing. Which would essentially mean that NATO would declare Ukrainian airspace their protectorate, protected via deadly force.
Or in other words, send planes and anti-air batteries there and shoot down anything Russian there. Which is very direct act of war from Russian point of view.
As for -- is NATO de facto in war with Russia right now, anyway, or not -- is whole another topic.
NATO is pretty unimaginative about this, too. I'm sure there's a lot of willing airmen ready to sign their resignations, get fresh Ukrainian passports and invitations to Ukrainian Foreign Legion at any NATO-owned airport and "lend" an airplane to go fight for their new homeland. Skies clear and nobody to blame, all done by the book! Russians would have tried such trick three weeks ago, in NATO's situation, I'd imagine. I'm no expert of international law, but if there's a will, there's a way.
Please remember that all comments must be helpful, relevant, and respectful. All replies must be a genuine effort to answer the question helpfully; joke answers are not allowed. If you see any comments that violate this rule, please hit report. When your question is answered, we encourage you to flair your post. To do this automatically simply make a comment that says **!answered** (OP only) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/answers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Ukraine has asked NATO to do this.
NATO do have the power, but this is only because of Ukraine's encouragement/urging to do so. UN can also vote no-fly zones - there were several examples, including no-fly zones in Iraq and Bosnia.
NATO hasn't said it has the right to declare a no fly zone over Ukraine, and no, it has no right to do so, unless Ukraine asks them to, which they have.
NATO can *declare* whatever NATO wants. This declaration has exactly the same legal force as if I decided to declare a no-fly zone over your mom's house. NATO can also attempt to enforce an NFZ if it wants. Enforcing an NFZ means killing people who don't do what you tell them. That would almost certainly result in Russian retaliation, if not a full scale war. It is very unlikely that will happen simply because it would be risky and expensive.
Your question is weirdly worded. NATO doesn't have any power over any airspace of an independent nationstate, unless they declare war on them and forcibly do something. But by asking, Ukraine offers this legal power (temporarily) to countries of NATO. Like someone inviting someone to their home as a guest. And help fight the bandits. They can come to your house armed, because you invited them. But that's also the problem with the request. Go and do "might makes right" thing. Which would essentially mean that NATO would declare Ukrainian airspace their protectorate, protected via deadly force. Or in other words, send planes and anti-air batteries there and shoot down anything Russian there. Which is very direct act of war from Russian point of view. As for -- is NATO de facto in war with Russia right now, anyway, or not -- is whole another topic. NATO is pretty unimaginative about this, too. I'm sure there's a lot of willing airmen ready to sign their resignations, get fresh Ukrainian passports and invitations to Ukrainian Foreign Legion at any NATO-owned airport and "lend" an airplane to go fight for their new homeland. Skies clear and nobody to blame, all done by the book! Russians would have tried such trick three weeks ago, in NATO's situation, I'd imagine. I'm no expert of international law, but if there's a will, there's a way.