US puts pressure on Turkey to end Boeing air connection with Russia

Boeing 787−8 Dreamliner
Boeing 787−8 Dreamliner

Last month Turkey was warned of imprisonment, fines, loss of export privileges and other restricting steps if it continues to provide spare parts, fuel and other services for the U.S.-made planes that are being used for flights to and from Russia and Belarus.

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An official source said that Assistant Secretary of Commerce Thea Rozman Kendler warned Turkey about the threat of such sanctions during her visit to the country in December 2022.

On the journal's request for comments, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency said that the foreign companies were informed about the U.S. export restrictions in regard to Russian, Belarussian and Iranian transport companies that must be observed.

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The result of this warning will demonstrate if the United States and its allies can strictly isolate Russia in the long run, the Wall Street Journal wrote.

The warning by the U.S. official was delivered amid Washington’s attempts to enforce sanctions against Russia.  The United States is seeking to persuade other countries to be more strict with the sanctions.

The Russian civilian fleet consists mostly of U.S.-made Boeing and European-made Airbus airplanes that are leased from companies registered in Ireland or Bermuda.

Read also: Turkey bans flights of Russian aircraft with dual registration

It was reported earlier that the world’s largest leasing company AerCap filed a lawsuit against insurance companies for planes stolen by Russia.

The Washington Post reported in June that Russia held 400 airplanes leased from foreign companies hostage.

Russian companies can fly to eight countries only, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

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