U.S. joins Canada and the European Union in banning Russian planes from its airspace
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the U.S. would close its skies to Russian aircraft from entering American airspace as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine. The move follows similar action by Canada and the European Union.
“Tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights — further isolating Russia — and adding an additional squeeze on their economy,” Biden said.
The announcement came during the State of the Union address. The president opened his remarks with a focus on Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and the efforts undertaken by the U.S. and allies to penalize Russian President President Vladimir Putin and other members of the country’s elite.
U.S. airplane manufacturer Boeing also announced that it was suspending parts, maintenance and technical support for Russian airlines as well as major operations in Moscow after Russia’s invasion. “As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region,” a Boeing spokesperson said. Boeing also temporarily closed its office in Kyiv and “paused operations” at its Moscow Training Campus.
European Union earlier announced a flight ban on Russian carriers. European aerospace company also said that it had stopped sending spare parts to Russia and supporting Russian airlines.
