Ukraine seeks 'airport ceasefire' with Russia and counts on EU support
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Getty Images)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has proposed that the European Union help broker a mutual halt to strikes on airports in both Russia and Ukraine, Politico reports.
Sybiha presented the idea during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
According to the minister, Kyiv probably needs "a new role of Europe in our peace efforts," as the US-led diplomatic process has slowed down and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to agree to a broader deal to end the war.
"Maybe we would try to resolve or to achieve a so-called airport ceasefire," he added.
Under Kyiv’s proposal, both sides would refrain from striking airports. Ukraine’s top diplomat said he believes Russia could also be interested in such a deal, since major Russian airports are increasingly becoming targets of long-range Ukrainian attacks.
Sybiha suggested that European partners could create a separate platform or special group to discuss this type of ceasefire. According to him, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already discussed the idea with several European leaders.
At the same time, the Foreign Minister stressed that Ukraine is not proposing that Europe replace the United States in the negotiations.
"It should be a complementary track — not instead, not alternative," he explained, adding that Europe should speak with "one voice."
What is known about the possible reopening of airports in Ukraine
Ukraine officially closed its airspace to civilian aviation on February 24, 2022, after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, regular passenger flights have not operated in the country.
At the beginning of 2025, Boryspil Airport CEO Oleksii Dubrevskyi said the airport would be ready to resume operations within a month after the reopening of Ukrainian airspace.
In March 2026, the Ukrainian government created a special working group to prepare for the reopening of airports once the airspace is opened. Its tasks include coordinating between government agencies, developing a phased flight resumption plan, and protecting aviation infrastructure.
