Lavrov: Trust With US Will Take Time
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that restoring trust between Russia and the United States will be a gradual process, pointing to continued resistance from some parties to improved relations, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency
Speaking after a CIS foreign ministers' meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Lavrov stressed that normalization based on mutual respect and acknowledgment of each country’s interests is both “realistic and necessary.”
“We shouldn't harbor illusions,” he said, “but such normalization is achievable.”
Lavrov also commented on the latest prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington, in which American Ksenia Karelina was swapped for Russian Artur Petrov. The deal, facilitated by the UAE, marks the second such exchange in recent weeks.
“Even when only two people reunite with their families, it's a positive step,” he noted, adding that while such moves help build trust, long-term improvement will take time, especially after what he called damage caused by the Biden administration.
Lavrov also addressed the potential resumption of direct flights between Russia and the US, suggesting sanctions on Aeroflot need to be lifted first. A second round of talks between officials from both countries concluded Thursday in Istanbul, with embassy operations also on the agenda.
