Moscow: With fears of a Russian invasion looming, some airlines cancelled flights to Ukraine while a few diverted routes.
This despite talks between Kremlin and European nations to help ease tension.
While Dutch airline KLM halted flights to Ukraine until further notice, Ukrainian charter airline SkyUp said its flight from Madeira (Portugal) to Kyiv was diverted to Moldovan capital Chisinau after the plane’s Irish lessor said it was banning flights in Ukrainian airspace, reported AP.
US President Joe Biden spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in an hourlong call on Saturday. According to White House, Biden told Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios.”
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A day earlier, Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned that a Russian invasion could begin within days as per US intelligence.
Putin also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier.
Russia has denied that it intends to invade Ukraine, but over 100,000 troops have been sent near the Ukrainian border. Troops have also been sent to exercises in Belarus.
“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” a White House statement said.
