Yatseniuk instructs infrastructure ministry to hold consultations with Russian aviation authorities on reciprocity principle
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has ordered the Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Andriy Pyvovarsky to hold consultations with the Russian aviation authorities on observing the principle of reciprocity regarding flights between the two countries.
"The principle of reciprocity means the following: we fly as many times they fly to us, if other is not stipulated in our bilateral agreements. I ask you to urgently explain to our neighbors that sanctions have been introduced until Russia leaves Crimea. Aeroflot cannot fly, but our bilateral agreements on mutual flights should be implemented using the principal of reciprocity. We should protect own market and say that Ukraine will protect its companies and own economic interests with the introduction of sanctions," he said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
As reported, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko by his decree of September 16 enforced a resolution of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated September 2, 2015, on the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) which applies to several Russian airlines, including Aeroflot.
Similar sanctions have been imposed on the following Russian state airlines: The 224th Flight Unit, VIM-Avia, Gazprom-Avia, Donavia, Kogalymavia, Orenburg Airlines, Polet, Red Wings, Rossiya Airlines, RusJet, RusLine, S7 Airlines, Transaero, Ural Airlines, Yakutia Airlines, and Yamal.
The decision to ban flights of these Russian airlines to Ukraine was made by the Cabinet of Ministers on September 25.
On September 29 it was reported that the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) should notify Ukrainian airlines that they are banned from using Russia's airspace, starting from October 25.
"This measure will mirror the report of the Ukrainian State Aviation Service that on September 28 unilaterally and in violation of respective norms and provisions notified a number of Russian airlines that it introduces a ban for flights between Russia and Ukraine after the start of the winter navigation season on October 25," the Russian Transport Ministry said.
