Moscow is again calling for the United States to lift aviation sanctions on its planes, as it claims to be negotiating a ceasefire with Ukraine. The situation has the potential to create a stand-off between the US and the European Union over opening the skies to the Russians. Concerns surrounding any such measure include Russian fleet worthiness and the EU’s obligation to seize rental jets stolen at the start of the Ukraine war.
If the EU does not lift the aviation restrictions imposed on Russia since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, then any US move would in any case be largely ineffective due to the need for so many international Russian routes to overfly the bloc.
Top US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine, without anyone from Kyiv taking part
— Bloomberg Middle East (@middleeast) February 18, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat opposite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the meeting https://t.co/hqkjyxWBTB pic.twitter.com/2lW8KsmLvR
Hundreds of potentially unsafe jets
One EU commissioner cited on condition of anonymity by Politico, said that the EU’s commitment to sanctions was “firm” and highlighted that there would be “major safety and security issues” at stake if Russian jets were allowed to operate. This is because the aviation embargo means Russia also forbidden access to official repairs or parts for its jets from Boeing or Airbus.
“It is not known if Russian air operators and air traffic services have been properly maintained over the past three years, putting the airworthiness of the Russian fleet seriously in question,” the source said.
That could affect as many as 112 Boeings and 59 Airbus craft, according to planespotter.net data reported by Simple Flying. Not only could the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) be overwhelmed by the task of checking the Russian fleet’s credentials, but also, potentially dangerous jets released into Europe’s skies could bring with them into the supply chain a suite of forged parts believed to be supplied by manufacturers in places such as Iran.
Russia continues to “domesticate” the SuperJet with today’s first flight using the Russian designed PD-8 engines. The program to replace all foreign components on the jet includes major systems like the avionics, APU, air conditioning, landing gear assemblies, and engines. pic.twitter.com/fBCIqOcLdY
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 17, 2025
Legal and commercial pressures
Other issues include the EU’s legal obligation to seize assets on behalf of aircraft leasing companies which are owed huge sums of money as a result of their planes being commandeered by the Russians after the invasion.
Despite these concerns, some European airlines are keen to see the back of Russia’s retaliatory sanctions which have prevented them from overflying the vast territory, making their international routes longer and therefore uncompetitive.
Chinese airlines, which are allowed access to Russia’s skies, have inserted themselves into that gap in the market. If the US were to ease its restrictions, then, the pressure on EU policymakers from Europe’s commercial carriers could begin to mount further.
