Canada said it is seizing a Russian-registered cargo aircraft, Moscow is warning that ties between the two countries are “already on the verge of being severed.”And the seizure would have “serious repercussions” for Canada-Russian relations, the Kremlin said.The Antonov 124 plane will be the first Russian physical asset captured by Canada under its asset forfeit law and second under the federal government’s sanctions regime.
It comes more than a year after the plane first landed in the country at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.Ottawa announced the planned seizure of the aircraft on Saturday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine.
Officials said the seizure was a direct response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.In February 2022, Canada banned Russian aircraft from flying in Canadian airspace, effectively grounding the plane and forcing it to remain grounded.
It had landed in Canada to deliver a shipment of COVID-19 antigen tests.“The aircraft has been illegally detained at the Toronto airport since February 2022.