Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russian and US diplomats will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss resolving bilateral disputes. The primary focus of the talks will be improving the working conditions for Russian diplomats in the United States and for their American counterparts in Russia. This meeting follows several disputes related to embassy staffing levels and property issues.
Lavrov highlighted that these discussions are part of a broader effort to foster dialogue between the two countries, which both sides see as essential for resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Istanbul talks come after a February 12 call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, as well as a high-level meeting between Russian and US officials in Saudi Arabia on February 18.
Trump has expressed a desire to quickly reach a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Putin has tempered these hopes, stressing the need for restored trust between the US and Russia before significant progress can be made. Lavrov also pointed to the Biden administration’s actions, blaming them for creating obstacles for Russian diplomatic activities, and indicated that Russia had reciprocated by making it difficult for US diplomats in Moscow to operate.
The agenda for Thursday’s meeting suggests that the initial focus will be on resolving technical diplomatic issues before advancing to more complex matters related to the broader geopolitical situation.
