MOSCOW, April 6, 2024 (BSS/TASS) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal has called on the European Union to shutter its airspace not only to Russian and Belarusian flights but also to passengers from the two countries.

"Our idea is to prevent Russian businesses and Russian tourists from using the EU skies comfortably," the Ukrainian PM told a telethon audience. "The EU sky is closed to Russian airlines, but we have also discussed closing transit to any flights to and from Russia with our partners," he said, adding that similar measures should target Belarussian nationals as well.

Kiev will insist on such sanctions and work toward imposing them with the European Commission, Shmygal underscored.

The EU banned all Russian flights after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The bloc imposed similar restrictions on Belarusian carriers in the spring of 2021.