Russian negotiators have asked their American counterparts to consider reopening U.S. airspace to Russian aircraft and to restore direct flights between the two countries, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The request was made during a bilateral meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, where both nations discussed their diplomatic missions. The Russian statement highlighted that the talks focused on addressing various “irritants” from previous U.S. administrations.
The Russian ministry emphasized the need for practical steps to improve bilateral relations for the benefit of both nations. Specifically, they requested that the U.S. consider reinstating direct air traffic between the countries.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S., Canada, the European Union, and other Western nations banned Russian planes from their airspace. In response, Russia closed its airspace to many countries, although most Western airlines had already suspended flights over Russia by that point.
A statement from the U.S. after the Istanbul meeting described the talks as “constructive” but did not mention Russia’s request regarding direct flights.