A switch to visa-free travel between the United States and Russia is unlikely in the near future, said U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle.
It would be good to live up to visa-free travel times in relations between the U.S. and Russia, but this will not happen overnight, although as an ultimate and very ambitious goal this would be logical and correct, Beyrle said in an interview, published by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper on Wednesday.
But both countries plan to extend the term of bilateral visas, he said.
The U.S. has been intensively negotiating an agreement with Russian partners, which will hopefully be signed in the near future, the U.S. ambassador said.
Generally, the U.S. applies the world standard – ten years’ visas, he said. But for a start, two years would be a very logical and good step, Beyrle said.
