Austria is closing the sky for Russia and asking other EU countries to join this initiative. It was reported on Twitter by the Austrian Minister of Transport Leonore Gewessler. This way Austria becomes the 13th European country that has banned flying for Russian aircraft.
“We have already taken all the necessary precautionary measures. Following this decision, Austria will immediately close its airspace to all Russian aircraft”, - Gewessler wrote.
At the same time, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, said that the country is also closing the airspace for Russian airlines. The same decision was announced by the Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier the same decisions were made by the governments of Germany, Finland, Ireland, Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Sweden. In total, 16 states have already imposed the same sanctions against Russia.