US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday his decision to close the airspace of United States Russian airlines, as well as the European Union (EU) and Canada.
Biden’s announcement drew a standing ovation from lawmakers who attended his first State of the Union address to both houses of the US Congress.
“We will join our allies in closing U.S. airspace to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and further stifle its economy,” the president said.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday that it was not easy for Washington to make the decision, which will surely prompt reciprocal action from Moscow, as many of its airlines’ flights “fly over the Russia to go to Asia”.
Russia has taken a similar step
This Monday Russia closed its airspace to flights from 36 countries, including all those from the European Union and Canada, in response to the same measure adopted by these states after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraineas reported by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia).
The European measures in retaliation for the military operation which Russia launched on February 24 against Ukraine they have forced the Russian airline Aeroflot to suspend all flights to Europe and its neighboring countries until the next March or May.
It also canceled flights to several of its destinations in United States and Latin America, as the closure of European and Canadian airspace forces their planes to make a long detour.
(With information from EFE)
Subscribe to our newsletters
RPP Noticias offers you several options to inform you during the week on topics that interest you, from current political information and the health emergency due to COVID-19, to technological and entertainment recommendations. Subscribe to the newsletter of your choice.
our podcasts
PTR Reports | RPP’s team of journalists brings you the latest research and advances in health, culture, science, economics, services and society.
“Pop culture fanatic. Introvert. Devoted food trailblazer. Bacon geek. Lifelong coffee evangelist.”