MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The suspension of flights between Russia and Ukraine is absurd, and Moscow hopes common sense will prevail in regard to this issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
"We have stressed repeatedly that the halt in air traffic between Russia and Ukraine is absolutely absurd, and contradicts the interests of both air carriers, and, most importantly, Russians and Ukrainians. And, of course, we still hope that common sense will prevail," Peskov told reporters.
Direct flights between Ukraine and Russia stopped last Sunday after Kiev’s unilateral sanctions against Moscow came into force. The restrictions are intended to penalize Russia for reunifying with Crimea following a referendum in March 2014.
Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry spokeswoman Irina Kustovskaya told RIA Novosti on Thursday that the national aviation authority had received a letter from its Russian counterpart, in which the Russian civil aviation agency argued against Ukrainian restrictions.
Kustovskaya said that Russia’s stance was "unacceptable" for Ukraine. "We continue to insist that in order to begin the negotiation process, the Russian side must cease flights to closed territories, i.e. to Crimea, and pay a fine," she added.
Some 25 Russian airlines have been barred from flying to Ukraine. Last Friday, Russia responded to Kiev’s announcement of the ban saying it would mirror the action and prohibit incoming flights from Ukraine beginning the same day.
