Russia closes airspace to UK planes as Johnson pledges support for Ukraine

Russia’s civil aviation authority says it has banned UK flights to and over Russia in retaliation for British ban on Aeroflot.

The move comes moments after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledges “further UK support to Ukraine” in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, his office says.

“President Zelensky updated the prime minister on the most recent Russian military advances… including the terrible developments in Kyiv,” Downing Street says in a statement.

“The prime minister committed to provide further UK support to Ukraine in the coming days.”

However, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace rules out sending troops.

He tells BBC television Britain would “hold the line in NATO,” adding: “I’m not putting British troops directly to fight Russian troops.”

“That would trigger a European war because we are a NATO country, and Russia would therefore be attacking NATO.”