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On 27 February, the delegations of the United States and Russia met in Istanbul, during which the parties agreed on the first steps to stabilise the work of diplomatic missions. This was reported by the press service of the US Department of State following the talks.
According to the State Department, Washington has expressed concern about access to banking services and contractual services for US diplomats in Moscow. In addition, the United States insists on the need to ensure a stable staffing of the embassy in Russia. In a statement, the State Department said that during constructive discussions, both sides identified specific initial steps to stabilise the work of bilateral missions in these areas.
The American delegation was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter, and the Russian delegation was led by Director of the North Atlantic Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Darchiev. The parties agreed to continue negotiations in the near future, although the exact date and place of the next meeting have not yet been determined.
The Russian Foreign Ministry described the talks as meaningful and businesslike, stressing that the parties agreed to continue the dialogue. Following the meeting, the Russian side said that joint steps had been agreed on to finance diplomatic missions and create appropriate conditions for diplomats.
Separately, the issue of returning to Russia six properties in the United States that were confiscated in 2016-2018 was discussed. Moscow also proposed to resume direct flights between the two countries, which could help normalise relations between the US and Russia.
The Istanbul talks are a rare instance of official dialogue between two countries whose relations remain tense. The parties have not yet reached final agreements, but the willingness to continue discussions may indicate attempts to find at least partial compromises. The upcoming meetings, especially on the return of Russian real estate and the financing of diplomatic missions, will be indicative of the extent to which the US and Russia are ready for a limited dialogue in the context of general confrontation.
