Ukraine urges Ryanair to resume flight talks

Ukraine’s PM Tuesday appealed to Ryanair to resume talks over flights to the country as a domestic political row escalated over the airline’s decision to cancel its plans. Volodymyr Groysman said the country had “decided to renew the negotiation process with Ryanair”, a day after the airline accused Kiev’s airport of failing to honour a deal. Ukraine was “not yet a sufficiently mature or reliable business location to invest”, Ryanair said. The collapse of talks with Europe’s largest budget airline has sparked anger on Ukrainian social media. It comes a month after the implementation of an agreement to allow visa-free travel to the EU promised Ukrainians closer, cheaper and easier access to the west. Volodymyr Omelyan, Ukraine’s transport minister, on Tuesday accused Pavlo Riabikin, Boryspil airport’s CE, of sabotaging negotiations and trying to protect Ukraine International Airlines, which is co-owned by Igor Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine’s most influential oligarchs.<br/>