Canada has decided to follow a “Robin Hood” policy about a transport aircraft owned by Russian Volga-Dnepr Airlines. The plane had been stuck at Toronto Pearson International Airport for more than a year after it shipped COVID-19 test kits from China. The aircraft landed in Canada on February 27, 2022, three days after Russia started a military operation in Ukraine. Following the operation, Canada closed its airspace to Russian-owned aircraft, chartered aircraft, or aircraft operated by Russia on the same day.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal last week visited Toronto to negotiate the new aid package with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Media reported that the seizure of the An-124 aircraft was part of Canada’s new sanctions against Russia.
