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Russian officials have officially requested that the United States reopen its airspace to Russian aircraft and restore direct flights between the two countries.

Some shit you should know before you read: Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, President Biden announced that Russian aircraft would be banned from entering US airspace as part of sweeping sanctions imposed on Russia. At the time, President Biden said the move was intended to “isolate Russia” and ensure that the country “pays a severe price” for its invasion. In addition to the US, Canada, the EU, and other western aligned nations closed their airspace to Russian flights. Major Russian airlines, including Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines, and S7 Airlines, were directly impacted, forcing them to suspend flights to numerous destinations and reroute others around restricted airspace, increasing travel times and operational costs. In retaliation, Russia imposed its own airspace bans on many Western countries, escalating the aviation and diplomatic standoff between Moscow and the west.

What’s going on now: During a meeting between top Russian and US officials in Istanbul, Russian negotiators formally requested that the United States consider reopening its airspace to Russian aircraft and restoring direct flights between the two countries. The Russian Foreign Ministry said there was a need for “practical results” to help improve bilateral relations, noting that overcoming “irritants” from past US administrations was a priority.

Despite no agreement on the resumption of flights being made, Russian officials described the talks as “substantive and businesslike,” with both sides reportedly agreeing on measures to facilitate smoother financial operations for their respective embassies.

The State Department, while acknowledging the discussions, noted that American officials raised concerns about restricted banking access and operational challenges at the US Embassy in Moscow. A spokesperson said both sides identified “concrete initial steps” to stabilize embassy operations but did not provide details on whether flight restrictions were considered.

This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin recently commented on the ongoing US-Russia talks, expressing optimism about the early interactions with the Trump administration. He praised Trump’s “pragmatism and realistic view” compared to the “stereotypes and messianic ideological clichés” of previous US administrations.