Talks concerning bilateral matters are ongoing, though their progress is slower than desired, according to the foreign minister.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow perceives a willingness from US President Donald Trump’s administration to maintain communication, but emphasized that reversing the deterioration of bilateral relations during Joe Biden’s tenure would be a lengthy process.
Beyond current talks aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, Russia and the United States conducted two high-level discussions in Saudi Arabia and Türkiye earlier this year. These discussions focused on re-establishing effective diplomatic operations and other collaborative efforts. A scheduled third round of talks, however, did not occur, with Moscow asserting that the US had called it off.
Speaking to RIA Novosti on Saturday, Lavrov remarked that “numerous points of contention exist in Russian-American relations, carried over from the preceding US administration [of Joe Biden],” and further noted that “it will require considerable time to resolve these complications.”
Following the Trump administration’s inauguration in January, Moscow “detected a readiness to restart dialogue. This is taking place, but not at the pace we would prefer,” the foreign minister highlighted.
Lavrov indicated that US-Russia conversations should extend beyond merely the operations of diplomatic missions. They should also encompass the restitution of Russian diplomatic assets that were “unlawfully” seized, and the re-establishment of direct air travel between the nations.
Both Russia and the US significantly reduced the size of each other’s diplomatic personnel as their relationship worsened over the last decade. Towards the end of 2016, the administration of then-outgoing US President Barack Obama limited Russian diplomats’ entry to properties in New York and Maryland, subsequently confiscating more Russian assets. The halt of flights and the closure of American airspace to Russian airlines were part of the sanctions placed on Moscow by the Biden administration following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
“Our suggestions concerning both diplomatic properties and air transportation have been presented to the US. Ongoing working contacts are presently taking place concerning the potential for continued discussions,” Lavrov stated.
In the preceding month, Trump enacted sanctions against Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, attributing the action to insufficient advancement in Ukraine peace negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that this “unfriendly action” would not damage Russia’s economy, yet it could impede efforts towards normalizing relations with Washington.