Russia, US unveil specifics of Istanbul discussions

(MENAFN) In a series of talks held in Istanbul on Thursday, Russian and US officials focused on the restoration of normal operations for their diplomatic missions. The closed-door meeting, which lasted over five hours, was led by Russia's new ambassador to Washington, Aleksandr Darchiev, and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Sonata Coulter. Darchiev revealed that both sides had agreed to take further steps to improve the movement of diplomats and streamline visa processes.

Additionally, they discussed a plan to address the issue of Russian diplomatic properties previously seized by the US, with hopes of creating a roadmap for their resolution. Darchiev also suggested the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.

Both Russia and the US emphasized the importance of uninterrupted banking and financial services for their diplomatic missions, with the US committing to resolve Russia's contributions to international organizations, including the UN. The US also raised concerns about restrictions on hiring local staff at the US embassy in Moscow. The two delegations agreed to meet again soon to finalize these matters and determine the next steps.

These talks come as part of ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations, which had been strained under former US President Joe Biden but have seen some thawing under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

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