Ukraine to keep airspace open despite western fearmongering
The west has seemingly damaged Ukraine through its fearmongering than Russia has, with many airlines avoiding Ukraine and its airspace altogether.
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Kyiv International Airport, Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP)
Ukraine pledged Sunday to keep its airspace open to international travel despite the western fearmongering about Russia "conducting drills" near their shared borders and an "imminent invasion".
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines became Saturday the first major airline to suspend flights to Ukraine, diverting the course of any flight passing through its airspace.
A Ukrainian flight from Portugal to Kyiv was forced to land in Moldova after its Irish leasing company had revoked permission for it to cross into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian firm, SkyUP, also revealed that European leasing companies were demanding that Ukrainian airlines return their planes to EU airspace within the upcoming 48 hours.
"The airspace over Ukraine remains open, and the state is working on preempting risks for airlines," the ministry said after the meeting.
According to analysts within the airline industry, other airlines around the globe may soon ban flights into Ukraine because of the growing cost to insurers.
Growing concerns over air travel are accompanied by the increasing number of Western governments evacuating their diplomatic missions from Ukraine as they urge their citizens to leave the country at the soonest time possible.
Read more: US embassy in Ukraine relocates staff to Lviv
Washington also ordered all non-emergency embassy staff to leave Ukraine.
