Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday abolished visas for Georgian nationals and lifted a 2019 ban on direct flights to Georgia.

The U.S. State Department said that now "is not the time to increase engagement with Russia".

"Many Western countries, including the United States, prohibit Russian aircraft from entering their airspace. If direct flights between Russia and Georgia resume, we would be concerned that companies at Georgian airports could be at risk for sanctions, if they service aircraft subject to import and export controls. The entire Western community has distanced itself from this brutal regime – now is not the time to increase engagement with Russia. The people of Georgia would likely prefer that Putin withdraw Russian troops from the 20 percent of Georgian territory Russia occupies, rather than see direct flights restored or the visa regime changed", a State Department spokesperson told the Accent.

According to a decree Putin signed, starting from May 15, Georgian nationals will be allowed to enter Russia without visas -- unless they’re coming to Russia to work or to stay for longer than 90 days.

Another presidential decree lifts a ban on direct flights by Russian airlines to Georgia. Russia unilaterally imposed the ban in 2019 after a wave of anti-Kremlin protests in Georgia.