Russian, US officials to meet in Istanbul for negotiations, Russia’s FM Lavrov says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that a meeting between Russian and U.S. representatives to discuss embassy operations will take place on Feb.27, Thursday in Istanbul.

“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,” the minister said speaking at a press briefing in Doha, Qatar.

‘Türkiye is ready to provide all kinds of support’

According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, a technical meeting between the Russian and American delegations will take place tomorrow in Istanbul.

“As we have already stated, Türkiye is ready to provide all kinds of support to peace efforts, including hosting the talks,” Turkish FM sources say.

‘Moscow is deeply concerned’

Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian settlement, Lavrov said Moscow is deeply concerned that the Israeli army continues to take actions that go beyond the ceasefire agreement, creating tensions on the ground.

According to Lavrov, Russia and Qatar support progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, while viewing the resettlement of Palestinians in the region, rather than statehood, as a “time bomb.”

He also ruled out the possibility of European troop deployment in Ukraine, stating that French President Emmanuel Macron misinterpreted U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks—Trump had suggested such a move could be possible with the agreement of all parties, yet Russia’s consent was never sought

Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on February 18 in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where they agreed to kickstart talks on the Ukraine war without Kyiv.

U.S. President Donald Trump changed the US foreign policy since coming to office last month, reaching out to President Vladimir Putin and initiating high-level talks with Moscow for the first time in over three years.

Both sides have since moved closer while sidelining Ukraine.