“The introduction of bans by Russian aviation authorities is not yet planned. The Ministry of Transport and the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) are in contact with the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Shestakov announced, as quoted by the TASS news agency.

According to the official, tourists vacationing on Margarita Island will be transported to Russia by Nordwind Airlines on a flight from Porlamar, as scheduled.

Previously, Pulkovo Airport (in St. Petersburg) reported that on November 30, a Conviasa flight carrying passengers from St. Petersburg to Caracas flew along the route.

This was the first flight from Russia to Venezuela after US President Donald Trump announced the closure of airspace over the Latin American nation. “Conviasa did not announce the cancellation of flights,” Shestakov added.

Washington accuses Venezuelan authorities of not doing enough to combat drug trafficking.

The US Navy has deployed a strike group to the Caribbean Sea, consisting of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, a nuclear submarine, and more than 16,000 troops.

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