The Foreign Ministry explained why Russia does not raise the issue of lifting sanctions with the US

The topic of sanctions will be raised "one way or another" in bilateral talks between Russia and the United States , but the issue of lifting them or easing restrictions "is not being raised proactively" by Moscow for reasons of principle, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters.

Moscow considers US and other Western sanctions against Russia, its economic operators, and government agencies unfounded and illegal, the diplomat recalled. "And we will not undermine this position with our own actions," he said ( quoted by Interfax).

According to Ryabkov, Russia is focused on resuming direct flights in the negotiations, but "there is no proper response from the American side yet." There is also no "progress" on the issue of returning Russian diplomatic property to the United States.

The Deputy Foreign Minister added that contacts with Washington continue on various fronts, and that "the economic bloc remains on the agenda."

Kirill Dmitriev, the President's Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and HEAD of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), also noted that after resuming negotiations with the US, Russia did not request an easing of sanctions, which "helped reduce dependence on the West." "We are simply noting that if America wants more business with Russia <...>, then, of course, the US can do so," he said in April.

The lifting of sanctions is one of the demands voiced by President Vladimir Putin last summer for launching the peace process with Ukraine . A year later, he stated that Russia's conditions had not changed.

In recent months, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to tighten sanctions against Russia due to the lack of progress in resolving the conflict, but has failed to follow through. Last week, the Republican declared that he was "running out of patience" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and promised "serious" sanctions if NATO countries halted purchases of Russian oil and imposed tariffs of 50-100% on CHINA and India. Le Monde and The New York Times called these demands unfeasible.

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