Russia has suggested reopening direct flights with the United States. The proposal was made during a meeting between Russian and US officials in Istanbul.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the talks were serious and professional. However, it did not say how the US responded to the idea. Following the news, shares of Russian airline Aeroflot rose by 3.8%.

Many Western countries, including the US, stopped air travel with Russia in 2022. This was part of sanctions imposed due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

If flights resume, it would be the most significant economic step in improving US-Russia relations. The meeting in Turkey lasted six hours and followed recent discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump.

Both sides say they want to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. They are also discussing potential business deals but are first working on improving their relationship.

Putin recently said early talks with the Trump administration were promising. However, he also warned Western elites not to interfere.

According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, the Istanbul meeting focused on solving tensions left over from the previous US administration.

It remains unclear how the US will respond to Russia’s suggestion, but this could be a step toward restoring ties between the two countries.