Russian airlines will keep planes leased from foreign firms

Last month, the EU banned the sale or leasing of planes to Russia as part of sanctions to punish the invasion of Ukraine

Aeroflot’s passenger planes are parked at Sheremetyevo airport, outside Moscow. Picture: Pavel Golovkin/AP

The fate of hundreds of planes leased by Russian airlines from foreign companies grew murkier on Monday after Vladimir Putin signed a law letting the airlines register those planes and continue flying them.

Russian state media said the law will let Russian airlines keep their fleets and operate foreign planes on routes within Russia.