18 European countries, as well as Canada, decided to close their airspace to Russian aircraft against the backdrop of the military attack in Ukraine, while the Spanish Foreign Minister suggested closing European airspace to Russian aviation to force Moscow to abandon the war.

A short while ago, the Portuguese Foreign Ministry said that it had closed Portugal's airspace to Russian planes and airlines.

And earlier, Finnish Minister of Transport Timo Haraka said, today, Sunday, that his country will close its airspace to Russian aircraft, indicating that the decision will enter into force in a short period, without giving a specific date.

Austrian Minister of Environment, Transport and Technology Leoner Goesler also announced the closure of his country's airspace to all Russian aircraft.

He pointed out that Austrian Airlines (AUA), in turn, will not use Russian airspace, and that it has suspended its flights to Russia.

For his part, Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo announced the closure of his country's airspace to all Russian aircraft.

Denmark, Sweden, Italy and Germany also decided on Sunday to close their airspace to Russian aircraft.

In turn, Dutch Infrastructure Minister Mark Harpers announced the government's decision to close the airspace to Russian aircraft.

Harpers said that there is no place in the airspace of the Netherlands for a regime that practices brutal and unjustified violence, "therefore, the Netherlands is preparing this evening to close its airspace to Russian aircraft."

In the same context, French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Jabbari explained - via his Twitter account - that France will close its airspace to Russian planes and airlines, starting from this evening, Sunday.


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For his part, the Canadian Minister of Transport said today, Sunday, that Canada has closed its airspace to Russian airlines, with the decision taking effect immediately due to Russia's war on Ukraine.

"We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks on Ukraine," Omar Ghabra said on Twitter.

Britain, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have previously announced the closure of their airspace to Russian aircraft.

Russia responded by closing its airspace to British, Bulgarian, Czech, Polish and Romanian aircraft.

At dawn last Thursday, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, which was followed by angry international reactions and calls for tougher sanctions against Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to install a puppet government (subject to Russia), and vowed that Ukrainians would defend their country against the Russian military operation.