Russia confirms Ukraine conflict not discussed in Istanbul talks with US
US delegation arrives at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul at 9.45 a.m. local time (0645 GMT) for talks to normalize embassy operations between the two countries in Istanbul, Türkiye on April 10, 2025. (AA Photo)
Russian and American diplomats met in Istanbul on Thursday for talks exclusively focused on normalizing diplomatic missions between the two countries, with no discussion of the Ukraine conflict, according to Kremlin officials.
“These are negotiations between the Foreign Ministry and the State Department solely on the regulation and normalization of bilateral relations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a news briefing in Moscow.
The meeting, held at the residence of the Russian consul general in Istanbul, marked the second round of talks between the two nations and lasted more than three hours. The discussions are expected to continue but are not anticipated to match the duration of the previous round, which extended beyond six hours.
Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, is leading the Russian delegation, while Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter heads the American team.
Prior to Thursday’s meeting, Darchiev indicated that the two sides had already achieved progress on several issues, though specific details were not disclosed.
The talks align with what U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described on Tuesday as efforts to “further stabilize the operations of their bilateral missions.”
The diplomatic engagement comes amid continued tensions between Washington and Moscow, though both sides appear willing to maintain functional diplomatic channels despite broader geopolitical differences.
