Ryanair has announced that it will commit to being the first airline to return to Ukraine.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary said it will return to the eastern European country “when it’s safe to do so” but warned that might not be until the winter.

The airline was previously the largest to serve Ukraine, but due to Ukrainian airspace being closed last week because of Russia's invasion they have not been operating.

Speaking at a press conference in the City of London, Mr O’Leary said that he wanted to see "the Ukrainians succeed" and that the best way to punish Russia would be for the West to “drive down the price of oil”.

Bournemouth Echo: Ryanair was previously the largest airline to serve Ukraine before Russia invaded (PA)Ryanair was previously the largest airline to serve Ukraine before Russia invaded (PA)

He said: “We’ve cancelled all Ukrainian routes until the end of March. We do not believe it will be possible to fly to Ukraine for the foreseeable future."

Mr O'Leary added further context with the “first thing” the Russians did when they invaded was “disable the flight systems” at major airports.

He added: “We will be the first airline to return to Ukraine when it’s safe to do so.

“But I suspect it will take probably maybe into next winter before those technologies can be restored at Ukrainian airports, when hopefully the Ukrainians will have seen off the Russians and sent them back to where they came from.”