Media reports: Russia seeks removal of air sanctions from the U
S., but the European Union actively blocks these efforts In the complex political context of tensions surrounding Ukraine and international sanctions against Russia, a struggle continues to open a new air travel route — Russia insists on lifting the ban on its airlines flying to the U.S. Meanwhile, European institutions firmly oppose such steps, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sanctions and security concerns. According to an authoritative publication, Politico, in its article, the Russian authorities are actively promoting the idea of opening U.S. airspace to their airlines as part of possible agreements to cease hostilities with Ukraine. This is one of the strategic diplomatic efforts by Moscow to restore air links and facilitate access for its carriers on a global level. However, these initiatives are not welcomed in European countries. A high-ranking official of the European Commission, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the EU has no intention of lifting air sanctions against Russia. "Firstly, comprehensive sanctions are in place against Russia, including a prohibition on flights by Russian airlines through EU airspace," he asserts. In addition to political restrictions, European leadership emphasizes security issues. The EU representative points out that over the past three years, Russian airlines and air traffic control services have likely not undergone proper certification and maintenance, raising questions about their airworthiness. As a consequence, there is a significant safety concern regarding the future flights of Russian aircraft over EU and U.S. territories. Following Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, a broad range of restrictions was introduced against Russian airlines, including bans on landing and overflight over Europe and the U.S. Additionally, Western countries imposed an embargo on spare parts for Western aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus, significantly limiting the capabilities of Russian fleets. At the same time, Russia, as one of its diplomatic priorities, aims to restore direct air links with the U.S. For Moscow, this is a key aspect, since, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, lifting sanctions on Aeroflot could be one of the prerequisites for returning to normalized aviation relations. On April 11, Lavrov mentioned in an interview that Washington is still considering such a possibility, but no concrete steps from the U.S. have been seen so far. Furthermore, Russia has approached the U.S. with a request to allow the purchase of American Boeing aircraft and payment for them using frozen Russian assets confiscated at the start of the military aggression. This relates to potential compromise solutions that could become part of a package of conditions for lifting some sanctions if a ceasefire regime is agreed upon in Ukraine. However, the secretive nature of negotiations with Washington in this unique situation contributes to the reality that any steps toward easing restrictions for Russian and American airlines will exert additional pressure on EU airlines. EU representatives have long complained that they are forced to spend substantial resources circumventing banned routes, including flying around Russian airspace, which increases costs and flight times. This is one reason why Chinese airlines currently have more opportunities and a stronger presence in Europe and Asia. Despite these considerations, Brussels officials remain extremely cautious about the prospects for a swift response to Russian initiatives. One of the main obstacles is security concerns. An EU Commission representative directly cited the danger of flights by Russian military aircraft and the potential for new incidents, especially after Russia’s attack on air defense facilities in neighboring Azerbaijan, which raised worries about the safe organization of flights. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that U.S. plans for a “peace agreement” with Russia also include easing sanctions, contingent on a long-term ceasefire and Ukraine renouncing NATO membership aspirations. This is one of the controversial topics discussed at the international level, increasing tensions in negotiations and diplomatic debates about the future resolution of the conflict. In summary, the situation around air travel between Russia and the West remains complex and unpredictable, as Moscow seeks to restore global aviation interests, while the EU and U.S. aim to preserve security and political restrictions. The dispute over aviation sanctions exemplifies and could potentially hinder further diplomatic normalization in the region.