Talks between Russian and U.S. representatives on issues related to the functioning of diplomatic missions have begun at the residence of the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul.
The meeting started in the morning in the Arnavutköy district on the shores of the Bosphorus. The Russian delegation is represented by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, announcing the talks, expressed hope that the outcome would help determine how quickly and effectively both sides can address emerging issues.
As previously reported by CNN, citing a U.S. State Department representative, the meeting will not address political matters, security issues, or the situation in Ukraine.
Earlier, on February 18, high-level Russian-American negotiations took place in the capital of Saudi Arabia, lasting four and a half hours. The discussions involved Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov. The U.S. delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff.
Following the meeting, both sides agreed to create conditions for the full restoration of bilateral cooperation, the removal of restrictions on embassy operations, and the initiation of a process to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
