European nations and Canada moved on Sunday to shut their airspace to Russian aircraft, an unprecedented step aimed at pressuring President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two.
Europe and Canada said Sunday they would close their airspace to Russian airlines after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising the pressure on the United States to do the same.
The European Union’s chief executive says the 27-nation bloc will close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund supplies of weapons to Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets in response to Russia’s invasion.
Officials for Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Iceland all announced measures to further isolate Russia.
Transport Canada said Sunday that an Aeroflot flight violated the prohibition and that it would “not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action and other measures to prevent future violations”
After the EU, UK, and Canada banned Russian aircraft from the borders, Moscow has responded in kind. Russia's top diplomat cited the move as a reason for canceling a planned trip to the UN in Geneva.
Russia has closed its airspace to carriers from Canada and 35 other nations, including many European countries. That's after the countries closed their respective airspaces to all Russian aircraft.
