Russia’s Foreign Ministry says it has suggested restoring direct air links between Russia and the United States during the latest round of consultations with Washington.

Russian negotiators have asked their American counterparts to consider reopening US airspace to Russian aircraft and restoring direct flights between the two countries, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

"We are primarily interested in understanding the essence of President Trump's new line," a former Russian envoy told Newsweek.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says diplomats from Russia and the United States will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss the operation of their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington.

Russia sends a new ambassador to Washington, marking an attempt to improve U.S.-Russia relations and resolve issues since the Ukraine war. Alexander Darchiyev's appointment signifies potential diplomatic breakthroughs,

The volume of Russian crude being carried on Greek-operated aframax tankers has jumped to a 12-month high, with Russia appearing to offer discounted oil to buyers in India and Turkey, said Mary Melton, senior freight analyst at the trade analytics company.

In Turkey, U.S. and Russian diplomats discuss embassy matters, testing the potential for renewing relations and addressing the Ukraine conflict. Under President Trump, there is a shift from previous administration policies.

Russian and U.S. diplomats will meet in Istanbul on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, for talks on resolving bilateral disputes that form part of a wider dialogue they see as crucial to ending the Ukraine war.