US, Russia take initial steps to stabilize diplomatic missions in Istanbul talks

U.S. and Russian officials met in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss stabilizing the operations of their diplomatic missions, marking an initial step toward addressing ongoing challenges, according to the U.S. State Department.

Key issues raised by US

The U.S. delegation, led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe Sonata Coulter, raised concerns over access to banking and contracted services, as well as the need to maintain stable staffing levels at its embassy in Moscow.

“The United States raised concerns regarding access to banking and contracted services as well as the need to ensure stable and sustainable staffing levels at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow,” the State Department said in a statement.

Following the agreement between Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov to initiate talks on issues affecting the operations of our respective diplomatic missions, delegations from both countries met on February 27 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The U.S. delegation was led by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe, and the Russian delegation was led by Ministry of Foreign Affairs North Atlantic Department Director Ambassador Aleksandr Darchiyev.

The United States raised concerns regarding access to banking and contracted services as well as the need to ensure stable and sustainable staffing levels at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Through constructive discussions, both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations in these areas.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Coulter and Ambassador Darchiyev agreed to hold a follow-up meeting on these issues in the near term, with the date, location, and representation to be determined.

U.S. Embassy Türkiye

Constructive discussions lead to initial agreements

According to the State Department, both sides engaged in constructive discussions and identified “concrete initial steps” to stabilize diplomatic mission operations in these areas.

The meeting followed an earlier discussion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 18, where U.S. and Russian representatives agreed to initiate talks on issues affecting their embassies and consulates.

Delegation leaders and future meetings

The Russian delegation was led by Ambassador Alexander Darchiev, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North American Department.

Coulter and Darchiev agreed to hold a follow-up meeting, though details regarding the date, location, and representation remain undetermined, the State Department said.

The discussions, held at the U.S. Consulate General residence in Istanbul, lasted approximately 6.5 hours, beginning at 9:50 a.m. and concluding at 4:20 p.m.

No additional statements were provided following the meeting, though it attracted significant attention from both local and international media.

Russia’s position on diplomatic challenges

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had previously highlighted the need to resolve longstanding diplomatic issues that have hindered embassy operations.

“Our diplomats will address systematic problems accumulated under the previous administration, which have obstructed the work of embassies,” Lavrov said on Wednesday ahead of the meeting.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the meeting was part of a series of expert consultations aimed at addressing diplomatic challenges and strengthening confidence-building measures.

“We expect this to be the first in a series of discussions that will help overcome differences and enhance trust,” she said.

Geopolitical context and broader implications

The Istanbul meeting is part of a broader effort to stabilize U.S.-Russia relations, particularly amid tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine.

The February talks in Riyadh were the first in a series of diplomatic engagements intended to address ongoing disputes and improve bilateral relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced that he is “likely” to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia in the near future to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Türkiye, which hosted the talks, has reiterated its commitment to supporting peace efforts, including facilitating diplomatic negotiations between the two nations.