Russia-Ukraine consultations on lifting flight ban possible next week

Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry and State Aviation Administration wants to hold such consultations, its head aide on media issues says.

Consultations between Russia and Ukraine on lifting the ban on flights may be held next week, Ukrainian State Aviation Administration’s head aide on media issues Natalya Terletskaya told TASS on Friday.

"Our Infrastructure Ministry and State Aviation Administration want to hold such consultations," Terletskaya said. "Maybe something will turn up next week, but hardly by the end of this week," she said answering a question on when a round of talks can take place.

Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry said earlier that the country suspends air travel with Russia, and all Russian air companies are subject to the ban. Rosaviatsiya aviation agency notified Ukrainian companies about ban for flights to Russia from October 25.

Ukrainian air companies asked Rosaviatsiya last week for permission to carry out flights during the winter season 2015-2016. In particular, Altasjet Ukraina air company asked for permission to carry out flights on three routes: Kiev-Moscow, Odessa-Moscow and Kiev-St. Petersburg, while UTair Ukraina asked for permission on two routes: Kiev-Moscow and Lviv-Moscow.