Russia proposes resuming direct flights with U.S. | 28 Feb 2025 | Moscow has proposed restoring direct air travel with the U.S. as part of ongoing efforts to revive bilateral relations, according to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday following a new round of talks in Türkiye. The U.S. suspended flights and closed its airspace to Russian airlines in 2022, along with other Western nations, in response to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Since then, travelers have relied on connecting flights through hubs such as Istanbul and Dubai. According to the ministry, the Russian proposal to resume flights was made during a meeting with the U.S. delegations in Istanbul on Thursday. The talks, which were aimed at mending the diplomatic rift that deepened under the previous regime, focused on reinstating regular operations at diplomatic missions and ensuring favorable conditions for their functioning.