Russia, U.S. Hold Six-Hour Talks in Istanbul on Embassy Operations

Delegations from Russia and the United States convened in Istanbul on April 10 for the second round of consultations aimed at normalizing the operations of their respective embassies. The discussions, held at the Russian Consulate General, lasted nearly six hours and concluded without public statements. ​

The Russian delegation was led by Ambassador to Washington Alexander Darchiev, while Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter headed the U.S. team. These talks focused exclusively on the functioning of diplomatic missions, deliberately excluding topics such as the Ukraine conflict or broader security issues. ​

Key issues addressed included the staffing levels at embassies, visa issuance procedures, and access to banking services essential for diplomatic operations. Both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations in these areas. ​

Additionally, Russia proposed the resumption of direct flights between the two countries, which had been suspended since February 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Ambassador Darchiev emphasized that restoring air travel would benefit both nations by facilitating business and easing travel for citizens. ​

The return of diplomatic properties seized in previous years was also on the agenda. Russia has consistently called for the return of these properties and has seized U.S. diplomatic property near Moscow in retaliation.

While the meeting concluded without immediate public comment, it is anticipated that the foreign ministries of both countries will provide summaries of the negotiations in due course. These consultations represent a cautious yet significant step toward addressing longstanding diplomatic challenges and improving bilateral relations.