Rapprochement between the U.S. and Russia – following a diplomat-level meeting in Istanbul last week – gathered pace Thursday with the appointment of

Russia’s Foreign Ministry says it has suggested restoring direct air links between Russia and the United States during the latest round of consultations with Washington.

The Russian Foreign Ministry praised the latest round of talks with the United States in a statement on Friday, calling them "substantive and businesslike." Russian and U.S. teams held six hours of talks in Turkey on Thursday to try to restore the normal functioning of their embassies,

Russia hopes the meeting with U.S. officials in Istanbul will "strengthen the trust" between the two countries, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Feb. 27. "We expect that today's meeting will be first in the series of similar expert consultations that will move us closer,

Turkish Airlines and Emirates are among the carriers that have continued operating flights to Russia since the Ukraine invasion three years ago.

Russian and U.S. diplomats are holding talks in Istanbul to discuss ways to normalize the operation of their respective embassies.

"The United States 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," the U.S. State Department said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that a meeting between Russian and US representatives to discuss embassy operations will take place on Thursday in Istanbul.

Russia have asked US representatives to consider reopening US airspace to Russian aircraft and resume direct flights between the two countries.

Russian and U.S. teams held six hours of talks in Turkey on Thursday to try to restore normal functioning of their embassies, and Vladimir Putin said initial contacts with Donald Trump's new administration had inspired hope.

We hope that today's meeting, the first in a series of expert consultations, will bring us and the American side closer to overcoming differences and strengthening trust,' says Russian Foreign Ministr

ISTANBUL — Russia has offered the United States to restore direct air links between the two countries during the latest round of consultations with Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said ...