ST. PETERSBURG, June 18. /TASS/. Moscow sees Washington’s interest in resuming direct flights to Russia, Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Special Representative of Russian President for investment and economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), adding that direct flights between the two countries may resume by the end of this year.

"We hope so. There were a lot of questions and discussions today stating that, obviously, direct flights are very important. Moreover, aircraft may fly bypassing Europe, which holds its extremely hostile stand on Russia. We see huge interest, including on the American side, on resumption of direct flights to Russia," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 TV channel when asked whether direct flights between Russia and the US could be resumed in 2025.

St. Petersburg may become one of the hubs for flights from the US, Dmitriev added. "Very pragmatic direct discussions are underway. We hope that this issue may be resolved positively this year," he noted.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is taking place on June 18-21. This year, the event is held under the theme "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World." The program includes the SME Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, the Day of the Future International Youth Economic Forum, the Drug Security Forum, and the Roscongress Urban Hub discussion platform. As part of the cultural program, the Petersburg Seasons festival will be held, and the SPIEF Sports Games will take place. The Roscongress Foundation is the organizer of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. TASS is its information partner.