They demand clarification from Russia from Yatsenyuk: On what basis are flights of Ukrainian airlines banned?
Minister of Infrastructure Andrei Pivovarsky explained Ukraine's imposition of sanctions against Russian airlines.
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“As you know, the Security Council decision was put into effect by presidential decree. The sanctions list included 29 Russian airlines, of which 27 illegally operated flights to occupied Crimea, and 2 Ukrainian airlines, which were illegally nationalized by the so-called. government of Crimea.
Sanctions mean, firstly, a complete ban on companies from the list of flights to Ukrainian cities. Secondly, a ban on the transit through the territory of Ukraine of aircraft that transport military equipment, military manpower and dual-use equipment.
Since the beginning of 2015, five Russian airlines have operated flights to Ukrainian cities, of which four were included in the sanctions list. The State Aviation Service of Ukraine informed them that from October 25 they were prohibited from flying to Ukraine. These measures are provided for in the intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Russia. We have documented evidence of violations, and this is grounds for canceling flights. This is important for Ukrainian citizens and experts to understand.
Let me emphasize once again that these sanctions are a response to violations of the norms of a bilateral agreement by specific Russian airlines. These companies ignored Ukrainian legislation and international rules, and, despite the ban, carried out flights to occupied Crimea. I would like to remind you that Crimea airports have been closed to flights since 2014.
Ukraine in no way creates an “iron curtain” between the two countries. The purpose of the sanctions is to punish violators and increase economic pressure on a nuclear power that carried out military aggression against Ukraine. Other countries have imposed sanctions against the Russian Federation - the USA, the EU, etc. The world community supports us. Like other countries, Ukraine is ready to bear economic losses from such a decision.
In the first half of 2015, passenger traffic between the two countries amounted to approximately 657 thousand people, of which Russian companies on the sanctions list transported approximately 2,5 times more than Ukrainian airlines - 431 thousand people. A significant part of this passenger traffic was transit. Now transit passengers can use the transit capabilities of other hubs, i.e. For them this loss will not be sensitive.
At the same time, the Russian Federation carried out an unmotivated reverse reaction - a number of Ukrainian carriers received notifications that from October 25 they would be prohibited from flying to Russian cities, such a ban is absolutely groundless and is a violation of the bilateral agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which states that no no restrictions on flights. All Russian companies have historically received as many permits as they wanted. But, given that some of them violated the ban on flights to Crimea, Ukraine introduced a ban, as provided for by Ukrainian legislation and a bilateral agreement.
And the Russian Federation decided to introduce an alternative ban. On what basis is unclear. The Ukrainian State Aviation Service sent a letter to the Russian service yesterday, asking why the ban was introduced, and which Ukrainian companies were included in the list. Hopefully we'll get an answer today.
Ukraine will protect the economic interests of Ukrainian air carriers with all possible methods. We introduced a ban because Russian air carriers violated Ukrainian legislation and a bilateral agreement. The Ukrainians did not violate this agreement. We will continue to resolve intergovernmental issues in the field of aviation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ukraine will strictly adhere to its obligations under the bilateral agreement and will insist on Russia’s implementation of the bilateral agreement,” the minister said.