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.

The Kremlin spokesman said on Thursday that Moscow does not expect any breakthroughs from the Russia-US talks taking place in Istanbul. Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Dmitry Peskov noted that the US and Russia have accumulated too many issues in their relations to mend them swiftly.

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday said that Moscow and Washington have agreed on steps to remove obstacles to financing their embassies. Commenting on the outcome of Thursday’s talks in Istanbul, a ministry statement said that "discussions were conducted in a meaningful and businesslike manner."

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the United States had given Moscow its official blessing to appoint Alexander Darchiyev as its new ambassador to Washington. The American side had handed over an official note green-lighting Darchiyev's appointment during talks with Russia in Istanbul on Thursday, the ministry said.

Russia has offered the United States to restore direct air links between the two countries during the latest round of consultations with Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.