The latest European countries to close their airspace to Russian airlines and flights.

Much of Europe has closed its airspace to Russian airlines and flights. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a raft of new sanctions, including a ban on Russian flights using EU airspace.

European countries are monitoring their airspace carefully after Ukraine closed its airspace to commercial flights.

Moldova, southwest of Ukraine, has banned commercial flights, while Belarus to the north said civilian planes could no longer fly over part of its territory.

Ursula von der Leyen announced the entire EU airspace would be shut to Russian flights, as part of a raft of new sanctions unveiled today.

“We are shutting down the EU airspace for Russians,” the EU president said.

“We’re proposing a prohibition on all Russian-owned, Russian-registered, and Russian-controlled aircraft.

“These aircraft will no more be able to land in, take off, or overfly the territory of the European Union.”

She added that the restrictions will include private jets of Russian oligarchs.

Note: This information is accurate as of 19:00 CET on Sunday 27 February. We will bring you any further updates as they happen.

Source: European Travel News