DDM – Moscow has stated that Washington has yet to respond to Russia’s proposal to restore direct flights between the two countries.
DDM Confirmed that the announcement was made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a media forum in Moscow on Wednesday, according to TASS.
Zakharova said the proposal specifically covers major routes such as Moscow-New York and Moscow-Washington, which were suspended amid diplomatic tensions following sanctions and reciprocal expulsions of diplomats.
She emphasized that while Russia is ready to resume the flights, the question of how these flights would operate ultimately rests with the United States.
“Russia made a proposal to resume direct flights, but there is still no answer from Washington,” Zakharova said, highlighting the apparent diplomatic inertia on the American side.
The proposal comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, which have seen their air travel connections drastically reduced over the past decade due to political disputes, sanctions, and security concerns.
Zakharova also addressed visa procedures, noting that Russia continues to issue visas to American citizens “promptly,” despite what she described as tightened restrictions imposed by US diplomatic missions.
She explained that even though Russia’s embassy and consulates in the United States have faced staffing reductions, this has never hindered the issuance of visas to Americans, which continues at a normal pace.
By contrast, Russian citizens seeking visas for travel to the United States face significantly longer processing times, often requiring appointments abroad with waits exceeding six months.
Zakharova described this as a result of US policy adjustments following Moscow’s diplomatic measures, rather than retaliation against individual applicants.
“No matter how much our embassy and consulates were cut, it never stopped Russian diplomats from issuing visas as quickly as before,” she said.
She further insisted that Russia’s approach is not retaliatory and that individual Americans are not penalized for geopolitical conflicts or political disputes.
“The process is very simple for Americans, while Russians must contend with lengthy waits and additional hurdles,” Zakharova added, underscoring the perceived imbalance in the visa process.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statements highlight both Moscow’s willingness to restore bilateral travel ties and its criticism of what it perceives as uncooperative behavior from Washington.
Air travel between the US and Russia has historically been a barometer of diplomatic relations.
Direct flights were suspended or reduced multiple times in the last decade due to incidents such as the annexation of Crimea, sanctions, and the tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats.
Experts suggest that restoring direct flights could serve as a step toward easing broader tensions, but only if Washington engages constructively with Moscow’s proposals.
The announcement also raises questions about the fairness and reciprocity of visa policies, which remain a contentious issue between the two countries.
Russia’s insistence on continuing to provide visas to Americans despite political frictions may be seen as a diplomatic gesture aimed at maintaining at least limited people-to-people contact.
The US government has yet to officially comment on the proposal, leaving the status of direct flights uncertain as both countries continue to navigate a complex web of geopolitical tensions.
