Reuters reported that on April 10, US and Russian delegations visited Istanbul (Türkiye) to conduct negotiations to normalize the activities of diplomatic missions between the two countries. US-Russia relations are said to have fallen to a record low since the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict in 2022.
According to Reuters, a number of vehicles carrying officials from both sides entered the premises of the Russian consulate in the center of Istanbul.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the talks would be led by the new Russian Ambassador to Washington, Alexander Darchiev, and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter.
Both Moscow and Washington have previously affirmed that the focus of the meeting was to restore the operations of diplomatic agencies after years of tensions, with each other accusing of threatening and harassing that further complicated bilateral relations.
On April 8, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the issue of Ukraine was completely off the agenda, stressing that the negotiations revolved around the activities of embassies.
Ms. Bruce also noted that the meeting was not aimed at a comprehensive normalization of bilateral relations, which could only happen if Russia and Ukraine reached peace.
In recent years, both the US and Russia have encountered many difficulties in granting visas and operating licenses to diplomats, making the operations of the ambassadors of both sides complicated.
Russia said that paying salaries to diplomats is Hampered by Western sanctions, while the US reflected that the country's diplomats are restricted from traveling in Russia. Both sides have been accused of being pressured and threatened.
One of the most controversial issues is related to diplomatic assets. Washington has imposed restrictions on six Russian facilities, including the Killenworth villa on Long Island, the Pioneer Point suburban motel in Maryland, the Russian consulate in San Francisco and Seattle, and two trading facilities in Washington and New York.
