Russia has asked United States representatives to consider reopening US airspace to Russian aircraft and resume direct flights between the two countries, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. 

In a statement issued on February 28, 2025, the ministry said the official proposal was made during discussions between Russian and US authorities in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 27, 2025. 

The talks involved US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Stephen Coulter and Director of the North Atlantic Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Darchiev. The statement said the two officials spoke about “the normalization of the functioning of the diplomatic missions of both countries as a follow-up to recent bilateral contacts at the top and high levels.”  In accordance with the instructions of the foreign ministers, the two leaders discussed ways to overcome the numerous “irritants” inherited from previous US administrations, the Russian statement noted. 

“We agreed on joint steps to ensure unhindered financing of the activities of the diplomatic missions of Russia and the United States on a reciprocal basis and to create appropriate conditions for diplomats to perform their official duties,” the statement continued. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that the US was asked to consider the possibility of restoring direct flights to and from Russia.  According to a statement from the US after the Istanbul meeting, seen by CNN, the US and Russia had “constructive discussions,” but did not specifically mention Russia requesting that direct flights between the two countries be restored. 

On February 24, 2025, the European Commission announced renewed sanctions against Moscow, including an extension of the flight ban on airlines from other countries flying to Europe if they operate domestic flights within Russia.  

The latest package extends the flight ban to third-country airlines that conduct domestic flights within Russia or supply aviation goods to Russian airlines. The ban impacts transactions with two airports in Moscow, Vnukovo Airport (VKO) and Zhukovsky Airport (ZIA), as well as four regional airports. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine’s allies, such as the US, Canada, the European Union, and other Western nations, prohibited Russian aircraft from entering their airspace.

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The creation of a transport and logistics complex with an area of 9200 square meters, warehouse for temporary storage and a cargo site for 5000 square meters will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018. The main purpose of the terminal is reception, delivery, customs clearance, cargo inspection and other types of state control on domestic and international air lines. The cargo terminal is in close proximity to the main runway of the Zhukovsky airport and will significantly expand the cargo handling capabilities as the infrastructure currently in use restricts operations with international shipments. The terminal capacity will be 100 000 tons of cargo per year. The second infrastructure project of the company was the construction of an apron for cargo ships parking with an area of 82,000 square meters. After completion of the work, ZIA CARGO will be able to receive and service up to 4 wide-body aircraft of the Boeing-747 type simultaneously.

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Source: Sobyanin on Telegram; Russian Telegram channels and media outlets

Quote from Sobyanin: “The [Russian] Defence Ministry’s air defence forces repelled a drone attack in the Kolomna and Ramensky urban districts [in Moscow Oblast], and [the drones] were flying towards Moscow.”

Details: Sobyanin also mentioned that two drones were reportedly downed in the Podolsk urban district in Moscow Oblast.

In addition, Russian Telegram channels and media outlets, citing the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, reported that operations at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports in Moscow had been temporarily suspended.

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Temporary restrictions at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports on the reception and release of aircraft have been lifted, Rosaviatsia spokesman Artem Korenyako said on January 24.

“At Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports at 02:12 Moscow time, restrictions on the reception and release of aircraft (VS) have been lifted,” he wrote in his Telegram channel.

As noted by the representative of Rosaviatsia, six airplanes landed at alternate airfields, four of which flew to Vnukovo, two – in Domodedovo. Temporary restrictions on the reception and departure of aircraft at Vnukovo airport were in effect from 1:32. Also at 0:22, restrictions were imposed on the work of Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.

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