Zelensky: Russian skies unsafe for international flights

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Tuesday, September 1, that Ukrainian armed forces' strikes on targets inside Russia are making all Russian airspace unsafe. He urged airlines, insurers and anyone still using Russia's key airports to take into account that drones will be present over Russia.

Zelensky said Russian authorities are not properly informing the public about this danger, but the war Russia launched is effectively closing its own skies. At the same time, he stressed that Ukraine poses no threat to civil aviation as such and does not want the death of innocent people, which is why it is warning partners. He said it is important that the information reach foreign ambassadors in both Ukraine and Moscow, as well as airlines flying to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other key Russian destinations. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry will provide full information to international bodies.

Putin's response

At a press conference in Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Zelensky's statement "a bid for state terrorism," adding that no one negotiates with terrorists, even though Ukraine is asking for talks and personal meetings to resume. Putin also warned that if tragedies involving aircraft occur over Russia, Moscow will find a way to respond.

At the same press conference, Putin dismissed reports of an upcoming new wave of mobilization in Russia after the September elections, calling them an "information attack" on the country.

Other statements

Putin also said that any military facilities on Ukrainian territory, including British ones, would be a legitimate target for Russian armed forces if they existed, though he expressed doubt that such facilities exist in Ukraine at all.

Meanwhile, many European Union member states have supported Ukraine's request to receive part of a two-year, 90-billion-euro EU loan earlier than planned, originally scheduled for 2027. This was announced Monday by Ireland's Defence Minister Helen McEntee following an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Ireland, who noted that no formal decision was taken at the meeting.