Bratislava of Russia: Slovakia is ready to resume flights with Moscow

Slovakia agrees to open its skies to Russian aircraft if EU sanctions are lifted, the Ministry of Transport of the republic told Izvestia. Experts believe that the launch of flights may be the first stage in lifting anti-Russian restrictions. Meanwhile, the camp of supporters of dialogue with the Russian Federation is expanding — Cyprus has now come out in support of contacts with Moscow. Since January 1, Ostrov has become chairman of the EU Council and can use these powers to enhance Europe's participation in the negotiation process. However, even such shoots of de-escalation will surely try to disrupt the anti-Russian bloc in the EU.

When will European countries return flights to Russia

Against the background of the development of the negotiation process on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, the EU is preparing the 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions. However, Brussels is running out of opportunities to introduce new restrictions. In addition, more and more countries are showing a desire to unfreeze relations with Moscow.

For example, Slovakia is ready to restore direct flights with the Russian Federation in the event of the lifting of European sanctions, Petra Polyachikova, a spokeswoman for the republic's Ministry of Transport, told Izvestia.

— If these restrictions are lifted, the airspace of the Slovak Republic will be available for flights of those indicated (registered in the Russian Federation. — Ed.) by air carriers or aircraft, — said a representative of the Slovak ministry.

According to her, after the restrictions are lifted, the possibility of opening regular or irregular direct flights between the two countries depends on the interest of air carriers.

—The Slovak Republic will be ready to consider issuing permits if the general requirements for entry into the airspace of the Slovak Republic, the requirements of the relevant air transport (services) agreements and European legislation are met," said a spokeswoman for the Slovak Ministry of Transport.

Recall that all 27 EU states closed their airspace to Russia and stopped direct flights after the start of a special military operation in February 2022. Moscow has imposed retaliatory restrictions.

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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were daily direct flights between Russia and Slovakia, and in 2019, Moscow entered the top 5 most sought-after regular destinations from Bratislava. In addition, the share of Russian tourists in Slovakia has been gradually increasing, especially thanks to local balneological and ski resorts. In total, in 2019, Russian airlines transported 128.1 million passengers, a significant proportion of which accounted for flights to Europe.

Last December, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico proposed resuming economic cooperation with Russia. According to the politician, Western countries will rush to establish trade and economic ties with Moscow after the end of the conflict in Ukraine. Earlier, Izvestia wrote that Cyprus is counting on the resumption of direct flights and economic ties after the end of the Ukrainian conflict.

Restoring flights with Russia will be the first task of European business in the event of a gradual lifting of sanctions, as it suffers heavy losses due to closed skies, Egor Sergeev, a senior researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies, explained to Izvestia.

Alisa Kazelko, a member of the Export Control Association of the Russian Federation, an expert at Valdai, noted that direct flights not only bring economic benefits, but also contribute to the restoration of humanitarian ties, family reunification and loved ones. In order to lift sanctions against Russia in the aviation sphere, the consent of all EU member states will be required, however, issues of further restoration of cooperation are likely to be resolved at the national level.

"I think that some EU countries, such as Poland or the Baltic states, may refuse to restore direct flights to Russia, thereby attempting to 'isolate' Moscow," the expert told Izvestia.

Which EU countries want to resume ties with Russia

Meanwhile, there are more and more voices within the EU in favor of dialogue with Moscow. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European leaders restore contacts with Russia and begin discussing a new European security architecture. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken the initiative to appoint a European special envoy for the Ukrainian settlement.

The EU Council plays an important role in coordinating Brussels' policy, with each member state taking over the presidency for six months. The President of the Council of the EU defines the main directions of the union's policy and often uses these powers to promote issues of concern to this country.

Since January 1, the chairmanship has passed to Cyprus, which intends to contribute to the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides called on the European Union to find a way to engage in direct dialogue with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The conflict in Ukraine must end as soon as possible, says Haris Georgiadis, head of the country's parliamentary committee on Foreign and European Affairs.

—And if there is any way Cyprus could contribute, of course it should," he told Izvestia.

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At the same time, another group of countries and politicians is forming within the EU that oppose the unfreezing of relations with the Russian Federation. Vladimir Shapovalov, Deputy Director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University, stressed in a conversation with Izvestia that the European Commission, headed by Ursula von der Leyen, was actively preventing the development of dialogue. Poland and the Nordic countries also take the most hostile position towards the Russian Federation and are unlikely to resume cooperation.

— The European Union will perceive Russia as a systemic competitor in the region. And in the context of the transformation of its trade, investment and many other policy areas, I would not expect a serious easing of the sanctions regime," Sergeyev believes.

The Russian authorities have repeatedly stressed that they are ready to restore dialogue with the EU and energy supplies, but it was the European countries that took the path of a complete break in relations. Therefore, Brussels should take the first steps to restart cooperation.