Istanbul (TDI): The United States and Russian delegations met in Istanbul to discuss the restoration and normal functioning of their Embassies in Washington and Moscow.
Alexander Darchiyev headed the Russian delegation, and Sonata Coulter, the deputy assistant secretary of State, led the US team.
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin had earlier expressed their desire to restore the relations between their countries.
The recent talks in Istanbul were focused on the conditions for both Russian and US diplomats, after the normal functioning of Embassies in Washington and Moscow.
The meeting provided an early test of the two countries’ ability to reset wider diplomatic relations.
📹 The Russian delegation, comprising experts on Russia-US relations, arrives at the venue of the talks with the US delegation in Istanbul pic.twitter.com/15fLz5rk8J
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) February 27, 2025
The diplomatic relations between Russia and the US remained strained over the last decade.
Both countries had expelled the diplomats of each other and limited the appointment of new staff.
Read More: Russia, Turkiye Discuss Ties, Ukraine, Syria Conflicts
According to the Spokesperson of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, the US-Russia high-level talks in Istanbul aims to find ways to resolve many “irritants.”
💬 #Zakharova: Today #RussiaUS talks at an expert level take place in Istanbul to find ways to resolve many ‘irritants’
We expect it to be the 1st in a series of expert consultations that will bring us closer to overcoming differences & strengthening confidence-building measures pic.twitter.com/ioHAtBlFvI
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) February 27, 2025
She further stated, “We expect it to be the 1st in a series of expert consultations that will bring us closer to overcoming differences & strengthening confidence-building measures.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, while addressing the Federal Security Services Board of Russia, said that the first contacts with the new US administrations “inspires certain hopes.”
Read More: US, Russia Agree to Restore Full Diplomatic Ties
He said, “There is a reciprocal commitment to work to restore interstate relations and to gradually address the enormous amount of systemic and strategic problems in the global architecture which once provoked the crises in Ukraine and other regions.”
President Putin referred to the current US administration as “pragmatic” which has stepped away from the stereotypes and “ideological clichés” of its predecessors.
He said that the so-called rules and messianic ideologies have destroyed the Western community from within.
While criticizing the European countries, he said, “We realise that not everyone is happy to see Russia-US contacts resume. A portion of Western elites are still committed to maintaining instability in the world, and these forces will try to disrupt or to compromise the newly resumed dialogue.”
While addressing the European leaders at the G7 meeting, the US President Donald Trump commented that the talks between Russia and the US are “proceeding well.”
European leaders have raised concerns over the restoration of bilateral relations between the United States and Russia, especially after US-Russia talks in Riyadh.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, during his visit to Washington, also warned President Trump against capitulating to Russia.
