Russian national flag carrying airline Aeroflot has confirmed problems with obtaining US visas for its crews.

"We at Aeroflot confirm the emergence of a problem with obtaining US visas for our crews," a spokesperson for the airline said.

On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Russia and the US may be left without direct flights because of the difficulties Aeroflot crews have with getting the US visa. The ministry reiterated that the responsibility to issue visas for the aircraft personnel in advance is documented in the Russian-US Air Transport Agreement of 1994.

Earlier, social media reported that the US Embassy had stopped issuing and extending visas for pilots and air-hostesses of Aeroflot, the only carrier that flies to the US from Russia. The US Embassy in Moscow has refuted this.