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Germany and Finland close airspace to Russia More European countries close airspace to Russian planes
(about 2 hours later)
Berlin and Helsinki join other European governments that have shut out Russian flights Germany, Finland, Ireland, Austria, and Denmark are the latest to announce bans
Germany and Finland have announced that they will close their airspace to Russian aircraft amid Moscow’s military action in Ukraine, thus joining a growing list of European countries that have already imposed restrictions on Russian airlines. Moscow has vowed a reciprocal response. Ireland, Austria and Denmark have announced that they will close their airspace to Russian aircraft amid Moscow’s military action in Ukraine, thus joining a growing list of European countries that have already imposed restrictions on Russian airlines. Moscow has vowed a reciprocal response.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure announced on Saturday evening that Transport Minister Volker Wissing “supports the blocking of German airspace for Russian aircraft” and had “ordered everything to be prepared for this.” “Shocking Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight. Ireland will move to shut off Irish airspace to all Russian aircraft. We encourage other EU partners to do the same,” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney tweeted on Sunday morning.
Austrian Transport Minister Leonere Gewessler said that Austria “supports the EU-wide blocking of airspace for Russian aircraft,” and that it would “immediately block” all Russian planes from its airspace.
Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod has issued a similar statement, announcing that “Denmark will be closing its airspace for Russian aircraft.” He added that his country would “push for an EU-wide ban.”
On Saturday evening Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure announced  that Transport Minister Volker Wissing “supports the blocking of German airspace for Russian aircraft” and had “ordered everything to be prepared for this.”
Additionally, German airline Lufthansa canceled all upcoming flights to Russia and announced that “flights that are in Russian airspace” would “leave it again shortly.”Additionally, German airline Lufthansa canceled all upcoming flights to Russia and announced that “flights that are in Russian airspace” would “leave it again shortly.”
Finland's Minister of Transport Timo Harakka also announced his government would close Finland's airspace to Russian aircraft on Saturday.Finland's Minister of Transport Timo Harakka also announced his government would close Finland's airspace to Russian aircraft on Saturday.
Germany and Finland are the latest in a string of European countries which have closed their airspace to Russian aircraft, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic, among others. Iceland, Belgium and Sweden have also announced that they are closing off their skies to Russian aircraft. They are the latest in a string of European countries which have closed their airspace to Russian aircraft, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic, among others.
Russia responded by closing its own airspace to the countries.Russia responded by closing its own airspace to the countries.
On Sunday, Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport said the “unfriendly decisions of the aviation authorities of Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Estonia” had meant Russia would be introducing its own flight restrictions on those countries.On Sunday, Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport said the “unfriendly decisions of the aviation authorities of Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Estonia” had meant Russia would be introducing its own flight restrictions on those countries.
Germany also joined the European Commission, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States on Saturday in announcing a new round of sanctions against Russia, revealing that “selected Russian banks” would be “removed from the SWIFT messaging system.”
The powers also announced that they would “limit the sale of citizenship — so called golden passports — that let wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government become citizens of our countries and gain access to our financial systems.”
On Saturday, it was also reported that Germany would be sending anti-tank weapons and surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine “as soon as possible.”