Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that fully restoring trust with the United States will require sustained efforts, while acknowledging encouraging signals in recent bilateral contacts during a press conference with CIS counterparts.

Key Diplomatic Developments:

1. U.S.-Russia Relations

• Prisoner exchange created positive momentum but "complete trust restoration needs time"

• Sanctions relief proposed: Moscow requested lifting restrictions on Tiroflyt airline and resuming direct flights (no U.S. response yet)

• Ukraine divergence: Noted Washington shows "deeper understanding" of conflict's root causes than EU allies

2. Eurasian Security Architecture

• Proposed new security framework with:
  ✓ Shanghai Cooperation Organization
  ✓ Collective Security Treaty Organization
  ✓ GCC and Asian partners

• De-dollarization progress: 80% of CIS trade now in national currencies via SWIFT-alternative systems

3. International Assessments

• EU criticism: Accused of transforming "from economic project to anti-Russia sanctions tool"

• China-U.S. tensions: Warned Taiwan support and tariffs exacerbate tensions

• Central Asia relations: Sanctions pressure failed to disrupt Moscow's regional ties

4. Upcoming Events

• May 9 Victory Day parade: Invited CIS leaders for 80th anniversary of Nazi defeat

• Framed as symbolic unity against modern security challenges

Notable Statements:

▶ "The U.S. administration, unlike the European position, is developing deeper comprehension of Ukraine's 'rigid' leadership nature."

▶ "Our financial systems now withstand Western pressure – this is strategic sovereignty in action."

▶ "European banks' 'secondary sanctions panic' won't deter our Kazakhstan partnership."