February 28th 2025.
According to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday, Russia has expressed interest in reestablishing direct air connections with the United States in their latest round of discussions with Washington. The two countries' diplomats met in Istanbul on Thursday to address the challenges faced by their respective embassies, which have been heavily impacted by multiple rounds of expulsions in recent years.
The talks were described by the Russian Foreign Ministry as "substantive and businesslike," with a focus on finding solutions to ensure the smooth operations of their diplomatic missions. They reached an agreement to allow for unimpeded financing and reciprocal support for each other's embassies, as well as creating better working conditions for diplomats.
In addition, Russia also proposed the idea of restoring direct air traffic between the two countries, although no further details were provided and there has been no response from Washington yet. This proposal comes after the US and other Western nations suspended air links with Russia in response to the country's involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
The discussions in Istanbul were a result of an understanding reached during a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as negotiations between senior diplomats and officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. The two countries have agreed to work towards ending the conflict in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties, which includes addressing the staffing issues at their embassies.
During the talks, the US delegation, led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe Sonata Coulter, raised concerns about access to banking and contracted services, as well as the need for stable staff levels at the US Embassy in Moscow. In a statement, the US State Department said that both sides have identified initial steps to stabilize the operations of their embassies and have agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in the near future.
In a press conference on Thursday, President Putin praised the "pragmatism and realistic view" of the Trump administration compared to its predecessors, which he described as being stuck in "stereotypes and messianic ideological cliches." He expressed hope for the restoration of relations and solving global strategic problems with the new US administration.
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