Nordics to close airspace to Russian planes

Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland Sunday said they would close their airspace to Russian planes, joining other European countries in ramping up sanctions over Moscow invading Ukraine.

Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia, “is preparing to close its airspace to Russian air traffic,” Transport Minister Timo Harakka wrote in an overnight tweet.

He did not state when the measure would take effect.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said on Twitter his country too would “be closing its airspace for Russian aircraft”.

“At today’s meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs we will push for an EU-wide ban,” Kofod said.