Following high-level talks in Türkiye on February 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had proposed restoring direct flights with the United States.
Russian delegation vehicles leave the dialogue in Istanbul on February 27.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on February 28 that the country had just proposed restoring direct flights with the United States when officials from the two countries met in Istanbul (Türkiye) in a meeting described as practical.
However, Russia did not say how the US responded at the meeting. Shares of Russia's Aeroflot airline rose 3.8% after the news, according to Reuters.
Many Western countries have suspended flights to Russia since 2022 due to sanctions imposed on the country for its military intervention in Ukraine. The restoration of flights to and from the United States would be the most tangible economic result between the two countries since President Donald Trump took office.
The six-hour dialogue between senior diplomats in Istanbul followed a phone call between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12 and high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on February 18.
Both sides said they wanted to negotiate an end to hostilities in Ukraine and discuss the possibility of signing major business deals, but were first focused on improving bilateral relations.
President Putin said on February 27 that initial contacts with the Trump administration had brought hope.
In Istanbul, "the sides discussed ways to overcome many unpleasant points inherited from the previous US administration," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Steps were agreed to ensure unhindered funding for each other’s embassies and allow diplomats to work normally, after years of tit-for-tat expulsions and wrangling. Russia also raised the issue of reclaiming six embassy properties in the US that were seized between 2016 and 2018.
"We particularly stressed the need to achieve practical results to create conditions for improving bilateral relations in the interests of the peoples of both countries. In particular, the US side was asked to consider the possibility of restoring direct air traffic," according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The State Department said the talks covered issues such as embassy staffing, visas and diplomatic banking. The statement did not mention aviation.
According to Washington, the two sides have identified initial concrete steps to "stabilize" the operations of diplomatic missions. Both sides said they have agreed to meet again.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nga-de-nghi-khoi-phuc-cac-chuyen-bay-truc-tiep-voi-my-185250228192331285.htm
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