Diplomats from Russia and the United States are set to meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss the operations of their embassies in Moscow and Washington, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.
This meeting follows recent Russia-U.S. talks in Saudi Arabia, which signaled a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. It marked a break from the U.S.-led efforts to isolate Russia due to its war in Ukraine.
During the Saudi talks, both Moscow and Washington agreed to work towards ending the war and improving diplomatic and economic relations. This includes the restoration of embassy staffing, which has been severely impacted in recent years by large-scale expulsions of diplomats and other restrictions between the two countries.
A U.S. Embassy official in Ankara confirmed that delegations from both nations will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss the operational challenges facing their respective diplomatic missions. The official clarified that Ukraine would not be part of the agenda.
Before Trump’s second term, relations between Moscow and Washington had reached a low point, especially after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. No Ukrainian officials were involved in last week's talks, with the Kremlin emphasizing that the goal was to restore relations and dialogue with the U.S., laying the groundwork for future peace negotiations.
Lavrov, speaking to reporters during his visit to Qatar, stated that high-level diplomatic experts would meet in Istanbul to address the "systemic problems" that have arisen due to the previous U.S. administration’s actions, which created artificial barriers for the Russian embassy's operations. He noted that Russia had reciprocated with similar restrictions on the U.S. embassy in Moscow. Lavrov added that the outcome of Thursday’s meeting would determine how quickly and effectively progress could be made.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli confirmed the "technical level" meeting would take place in Istanbul but offered no further details. He also reiterated Turkey's willingness to assist in peace efforts, including hosting future negotiations.
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