Officials in Washington have reaffirmed a policy of reciprocity when it comes to the movement of diplomats and essential personnel between the United States and Russia. The head of the U.S. State Department’s press service indicated that the United States would accept the expulsion of Russian diplomats by charter flight and would expect Russia to respond in kind, maintaining a parity that would ensure continued open channels for diplomatic communication and logistics. The remark underscored Washington’s readiness to use charter operations as a vehicle for orderly, and predictable, personnel exchanges, while keeping in view the broader aim of preserving diplomatic access and the ability of the U.S. embassy in Moscow to function effectively. This approach is framed as a practical application of reciprocity in special transport missions involving diplomats and associated cargo, intended to reduce disruption and safeguard ongoing diplomatic channels, including high-priority missions and consular services. The official emphasized that this arrangement would apply similarly to both sides, reinforcing formal standards for how exchange flights are scheduled and conducted in a way that minimizes misinterpretation or escalation. The broader context of the briefing suggested that such measures are part of routine negotiations over protocol and logistics rather than a response to any single incident, and they are intended to keep the embassy network operational under conditions that could otherwise complicate access for American diplomats in Moscow (source: U.S. State Department briefing visuals and transcripts).
On the other side of the conversation, a spokesperson from the Russian Foreign Ministry clarified the position from Moscow. Maria Zakharova stated, via the ministry’s Telegram channel, that a plane traveling from Russia to Washington would indeed transport Russian diplomats, but she noted that public speculation about specific flights had circulated online. She stressed that there was no sensational dynamic at play and that the situation was being managed within the usual channels of diplomatic practice. The Russian official’s message appeared to align with a broader pattern in which Moscow seeks to coordinate diplomatic movements through standard procedures and verify arrangements through official communications, while avoiding premature conclusions or inflammatory rhetoric. The emphasis remained on maintaining predictable and transparent processes for intergovernmental transport and ensuring that both sides can fulfill their diplomatic obligations without unnecessary obstacles, particularly concerning the functioning of consular posts and the ability of staff to reach their postings (source: Russian Foreign Ministry statements via official channels).