President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the night-time strikes on Boryspil and Kyiv (Zhuliany) airports were intended to disrupt the possible arrival of an American delegation by plane to the capital. According to him, the attacks were a response to discussions and preparations for an American aircraft to land at one of these airports.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy reported that two airports in Kyiv had come under attack during the night.
- The President described them as a reaction to the preparations for the US visit.
- The discussion centred on the possibility of the flight landing at Boryspil or Zhuliany.
- Vitkoff and Kushner are due to visit Kyiv on 6 September.
- Ukrainian airspace is closed to civil aviation.
The President described the motive behind the attacks as a reaction to preparations for the trip
According to Zelensky, the strikes on these airfields were the first in a long time. He described the link between the attacks and the discussion of the possibility of the American side using the aircraft to travel to Ukraine as obvious.
The Ukrainian President put forward the theory that the attacks were intended to disrupt the visit.
The visit by US representatives and aviation restrictions
Steve Witkoff і Jared Kushner, according to a statement by Zelenskyy on 4 September, are due to visit Kyiv on Sunday, 6 September, following a trip to Moscow. The President also stated that Ukraine is prepared to refrain from air strikes for the duration of their visit and called on Russia to do the same.
Ukraine’s airspace remains closed to civil aviation. The US State Department is maintaining its position on Ukraine warning the «Do Not Travel» level, and the FAA prohibits US aviation operations to, from, within and over Ukraine.
