Antonov might resume cooperation with Russia – Russian media

"Both parties are interested in reaching an agreement but the final decision has not yet been made due to the complicated relations between the two countries," one of the interlocutors told Kommersant. "So far, there is an understanding of the cost of services and the site where they are to be provided. A brigade from the Ukrainian enterprise will do the work at CJSC Aviastar-SP aircraft factory in [Russia's] Ulyanovsk."

The ongoing conflict created serious difficulties for Volga-Dnepr with the extension of the resource and ensuring the life cycle of Ruslan, the world's largest civil cargo aircraft. There are 12 operating cargo aircraft in the carrier's fleet. Antonov is the holder of the aircraft type certificate. Under its terms, the procedure for extending airworthiness should be carried out every 4,000 flight hours, although the assigned lifetime itself is much longer, that is 50,000 hours, 10,000 flights, or 45 calendar years.

Read alsoUkraine's An-124 becomes rescue for disaster-affected countries (Video)The Russian government acknowledged that Russian operators are experiencing difficulties with maintaining the airworthiness of the Ruslan aircraft.

At the same time, the publication's source in the aviation industry asserts that it's Kyiv, not Moscow, who needs Antonov's engagement with Volga-Dnepr because of the allegedly insufficient financing of the Ukrainian enterprise that is part of Ukraine's State Concern Ukroboronprom.

At the same time, according to another interlocutor, in case if cooperation never resumes, the cost of cargo transportation on the market may increase. At the moment, Volga-Dnepr is engaged in the delivery of goods under major international contracts, for example, transporting satellites produced in Europe to the Kourou launch site in French Guiana.

Read alsoUkraine's Antonov retains ties with Russian air carrier – journalistSources of the Russian edition in the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers believe that the deal between the companies can be sealed if the Verkhovna Rada does not interfere. "We motivate the agreement by the fact that the Il-76MD transporters that we have as well as the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are the intellectual property of the Ilyushin Design Bureau," the source said. Thus, if the Ukrainian side makes no concessions, it can face problems with the IL-76 aircraft as the extension of its lifetime requires the involvement of the Russian design bureau.

At this moment, there have been no comments from either party at the official level. The publication claims its inquiries have seen no response.