Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday abolished visas for Georgian nationals and lifted a 2019 ban on direct flights to Georgia.

EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said that Georgia should not allow unsafe Russian aircrafts into its territory.

"We took note of the decision by the Russian authorities to lift the air travel ban with Georgia. We have to recall, due to the illegal Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU and a number of international partners and other countries introduced sanctions against the Russian aviation sector, and we don't allow flights from, to or over Russia. The EU encourages Georgia, which is aspiring to become an EU candidate country, to align with the existing EU sanctions and sanctions of other countries, like many partners against Russia also in the area of aviation and to remain vigilant regarding any possible attempt to circumvent the existing sanctions, especially in the aviation sector. And then in light of the significant safety concerns notified to Russia by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Georgia should not allow unsafe Russian aircrafts into its territory. Due to EU sanctions, 95% of the Russian airplane fleet is not able to update and upgrade their airplanes, which is essential to maintain the necessary international technical and safety standards," Peter Stano said.

According to a decree Putin signed, starting from May 15, Georgian nationals will be allowed to enter Russia without visas -- unless they’re coming to Russia to work or to stay for longer than 90 days.

Another presidential decree lifts a ban on direct flights by Russian airlines to Georgia. Russia unilaterally imposed the ban in 2019 after a wave of anti-Kremlin protests in Georgia.