**Israel’s El Al to Resume Flights to Moscow After 4-Month Pause**
In a significant development, Israeli national carrier El Al has announced that it will restart flights to Moscow on May 1, ending a four-month pause. The decision comes after the airline assessed the current situation and held discussions with authorities.
The resumption of service was prompted by the recent easing of aviation restrictions on Russia. In December 2024, an Azerbaijani aircraft was downed during a drone attack, killing 38 people. This incident led to a halt in flights between Israel and Moscow. However, the situation has now improved enough for El Al to resume its Moscow route.
**Background: Aviation Sanctions and Diplomatic Relations**
The aviation sanctions were imposed by Russia on airlines from 36 countries, including all EU members, in retaliation for Ukraine-related sanctions. While Israel condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv, it has avoided direct economic measures against Moscow. The resumption of flights between Israel and Russia is a significant development in the two nations’ diplomatic relations.
**Russia Lobbies for Easing Aviation Restrictions**
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been actively lobbying for the easing of aviation restrictions on its state airline, Aeroflot. He recently stated that Moscow had asked the US to lift sanctions on Aeroflot but had not received a response. Lavrov linked the potential restoration of direct US-Russia flights to this decision.
**Ukrainian Officials Warn Against Concessions**
However, Ukrainian officials have warned against easing aviation sanctions on Russia. Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak argued in an opinion article for The Guardian that lifting such sanctions would grant Moscow both military and economic advantages.
The resumption of El Al flights to Moscow is a significant development in the complex diplomatic relations between Israel, Russia, and Ukraine. As tensions between these nations continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this decision affects their relationships in the long run.
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