Russia Aims to Unblock $500 Million Worth of Aircraft Parts Held in US Amid Sanctions

Russia has requested the United States to unblock $500 million worth of aircraft parts that were purchased by Moscow, as reported by Russian Media Izvestia in an interview with Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov on April 1.

These parts, already paid for, are vital to Russia’s aviation sector. Alikhanov emphasized the urgency of unblocking the supplies, underscoring their crucial role in sustaining Russia’s aircraft fleet, even as Western sanctions aim to limit Moscow’s ability to maintain its military capabilities.

“We have about $500 million worth of suspended spare parts in the USA for the needs of our aircraft industry, which have already been paid for. Therefore, I think that we, as representatives of consumers, would be interested in unblocking the supply of these spare parts. That would be important,” Anton Alikhanov told Izvestia.

In addition to seeking the release of these parts, Russia is exploring the possibility of recognizing repairs made by Russian companies on Airbus and Boeing aircraft despite sanctions. The Russian government is trying to find solutions that could allow such repairs to be recognized without the required verification of licenses from foreign manufacturers.

Alikhanov expressed the government’s interest in pursuing this route if it benefits Russia’s aviation sector.

Russia’s aviation industry, which has been severely impacted by Western sanctions, is trying to reduce its dependency on foreign parts. The Russian government has allocated over $9.24 billion for the development of its domestic aviation sector, aiming to make Russian-made aircraft account for at least 50% of the Russian fleet by 2030.

The sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union have led to significant challenges for Russian airlines, including restrictions on the export and re-export of aircraft parts and components.

However, some exceptions have been made, such as in November 2022, when the US Treasury Department issued a special license that allowed the export of goods and technologies necessary for aircraft operations, even for Russian-registered aircraft.

The Russian government’s push to boost the domestic aviation industry is seen as a response to the ongoing restrictions, with the ultimate goal of reducing reliance on Western suppliers.

Meanwhile, Moscow continues to express interest in dialogue with the United States to resolve issues related to aviation sanctions, but the chances of significant progress in this area remain uncertain according to Izvestia.

In the context of the war against Ukraine, the question of whether the United States and Russia will engage in negotiations to lift aviation-related sanctions remains a topic of interest.

In related news, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) has revealed the identities of 11 Russian ship captains and 31 vessels involved in schemes to evade sanctions used to trade Russian oil.

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