Russian delegation arrives at US Consulate residence in Istanbul for talks
The Russian delegation arrived at the residence of the US Consulate General in Istanbul at 09.50 for the meeting between the US and Russia to discuss issues affecting the activities of the embassies (AA Photo)
A Russian delegation arrived at the U.S. Consulate residence in Istanbul on Thursday for discussions aimed at addressing diplomatic issues between the two nations, Russian and U.S. officials confirmed.
Meeting focuses on embassy operations
The meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts to normalize relations between the two countries, with a specific focus on embassy operations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had stated earlier that the discussions would address “systemic issues that have accumulated during the previous administration, particularly those affecting the functioning of embassies.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Ministry sources confirmed on Wednesday that the meeting would take place.
“We announced that our diplomats and high-level experts would meet and consider the systemic problems that had accumulated as a result of the illegal activities of the previous (U.S.) administration to create artificial obstacles to the activities of the Russian Embassy, to which we naturally reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American Embassy in Moscow,” Lavrov had said at a press briefing in Doha, Qatar.
The Russian delegation arrived at the consulate residence at 9:50 a.m. local time, following the approval of diplomatic talks between Moscow and Washington.
Previous talks, future diplomatic efforts
This meeting follows initial diplomatic discussions between Russian and U.S. officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 18, where both sides reportedly discussed broader bilateral issues and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced that he is “likely” to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. However, no official date for the meeting has been confirmed.
Türkiye’s role in mediation
Türkiye has reiterated its readiness to fully support peace efforts, including hosting negotiations between the two sides. The country has played a critical role in past diplomatic efforts between Russia and Ukraine and remains open to facilitating further dialogue between Washington and Moscow.
