Russia–US negotiations in Istanbul concluded — is there a shift in diplomatic relations ahead?

The second round of consultations between Russia and the United States on normalizing the activities of diplomatic missions took place in Istanbul. The talks lasted 5.5 hours and were held behind closed doors.

According to TASS, the meeting was held at the Russian Consulate General, and the American delegation was the first to leave the building after the meeting ended.

Who led the delegations?

The Russian delegation was headed by Russia’s Ambassador to the US, Alexander Darchiev. The US delegation was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Sonatа Coulter.

Both sides decided not to give statements to the media after the consultations. The outcomes of the meeting are expected to be announced later by the respective foreign ministries of each country.

What issues were discussed during the negotiations?

The Russian side intended to raise the issue of returning previously seized diplomatic property and resuming direct flights between the two countries.

Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously stated that the parties would continue working on removing technical barriers that complicate the work of diplomats.

Reminder: The first round of consultations on diplomatic missions was held in Istanbul on February 27. At that time, the US side reported that concrete steps had been outlined to normalize the functioning of diplomatic missions between the two nations. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!