Russia may close airspace in response to new Western sectoral sanctions – Medvedev

The Russian government does not rule out that Russia could close its airspace in response to new Western sectoral sanctions, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
Western nations “should be asked whether there will be new sanctions, but if there are sanctions connected with energy or further restrictions for our financial sector, we will have to respond asymmetrically,” Medvedev said in an interview with the Vedomosti business daily. “For example, with restrictions in the transport sphere.”
“We proceed from the fact that we have friendly relations with our partners, so the sky above Russia is open for flights; but if we are restricted, we will have to respond,” he said. “If Western carriers fly out beyond our airspace, it may lead to bankruptcy of many airlines that are teetering on the brink of survival.”
Medvedev, however, said it would be a bad option. “We would just like our partners to realize that,” he said. The premier regretted that the West already announced a few rounds of sanctions against Moscow. “I hoped our partners would be smarter,” he said.

This post was published at ITAR-TASS