Russia has proposed resuming direct air travel between Moscow and Washington as part of ongoing diplomatic discussions aimed at stabilizing embassies and addressing broader tensions between the two nations.
Why It Matters
The U.S. and other Western nations severed air connections with Russia as part of a series of sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The talks in Istanbul signal a potential thaw in diplomatic ties, as U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump diverges from the Biden administration’s stance, which emphasized sanctions and diplomatic isolation of Russia.
What To Know
Russian and U.S. officials met in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss steps to normalize embassy operations, which have been severely disrupted in recent years. The Russian Foreign Ministry characterized the talks as “substantive and businesslike,” adding that both parties agreed on measures to ensure the smooth financial operations of diplomatic missions.
During the meeting, Russia proposed exploring the possibility of restoring direct flights between the two countries, which were severed after the U.S. and its allies imposed sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ministry provided no specific details or timeline regarding the potential resumption of flights. There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials on the matter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised the Trump administration’s “pragmatism and realistic view” in contrast to what he called “the stereotypes and messianic ideological cliches” of previous U.S. administrations.
The Istanbul negotiations followed earlier discussions between senior diplomats from both nations in Saudi Arabia, as well as a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin. In Riyadh, the two countries reportedly agreed to work toward ending hostilities in Ukraine and improving diplomatic and economic relations, including restoring full embassy staffing.
The U.S. State Department noted that in Istanbul, U.S. officials “raised concerns regarding access to banking and contracted services as well as the need to ensure stable and sustainable staffing levels at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.” A spokesperson added that both sides “identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations.”
What People Are Saying
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday: “The first contacts with the new U.S. administration encourage certain hopes…There is a mutual readiness to work to restore relations and gradually solve a colossal amount of systemic strategic problems in the global architecture.”
What Happens Next
Sonata Coulter, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Russia and Central Europe, led the U.S. delegation, while Alexander Darchiyev, head of the North America Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, headed Moscow’s team. The U.S. State Department said in a statement Thursday that the two diplomats “agreed to hold a follow-up meeting on these issues in the near term.”
This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.
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