English Section

Poland slams ‘untrue’ claim of blocking Russian planes with aid for Italy

24.03.2020 14:00
The foreign ministry in Warsaw has slammed a “baseless and untrue” claim that the government refused to let Russian planes carrying aid to virus-struck Italy pass through Polish airspace, Poland’s news website onet.pl has reported.
Russian IL-76 transport aircraft preparing for departure to Italy at the Chkalovsky military airport outside Moscow, Russia, 22 March 2020.
Russian IL-76 transport aircraft preparing for departure to Italy at the Chkalovsky military airport outside Moscow, Russia, 22 March 2020.Photo: EPA/ALEXEI YERESHKO

In a tweet that made headlines in Russian media on Monday, Alexey Pushkov, one of the country’s top politicians, said: “Poland did not let Russian aircraft carrying aid to Italy pass through its airspace.”

“This is meanness at the level of public policy […] From now on, Russia should not meet Poland half-way, on any issue,” the tweet added.

In a tweet on Tuesday, the Polish foreign ministry called the accusations “baseless and untrue,” and said that Russia had not applied for permission to enter Poland’s airspace.

Onet reported that over the past two days Russia has sent around a dozen planes to Italy with doctors and medical assistance.

(jh/pk)

Source: onet.pl