MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready to resume direct air services with the United States on the condition that restrictions on Russian airlines are lifted, the Federal Air Transport Agency said on Monday.
Russia is generally prepared to resume direct flights between the two countries, said Dmitry Yadrov, head of the agency, in an interview with Russia-24 television channel.
He noted that the return of direct flights will come after the removal of limitations imposed on Russian carriers, and on the guarantee that Russian airplanes arriving in the United States will be free of risks such as detention.
Following the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the United States closed its airspace to Russian aircraft as part of a series of sanctions against Moscow. In response, Russia imposed similar restrictions on the United States. ■