USA‑Russia dialogue reopens in Istanbul, focuses on ties
Representatives from Russia and the United States are scheduled to meet on Thursday in Istanbul, with the agenda likely to include discussions on the return of Russian diplomatic properties and the resumption of air connections between the two countries. This information was provided by Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiyev, as reported by the RIA Novosti agency.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Tuesday that representatives from Russia’s diplomatic department will participate in the negotiations between Russia and the USA in Istanbul, with Darchiyev leading the delegation. The American delegation will be headed by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States.
USA-Russia talks: Will they restore air connections?
On Wednesday, Alexander Darchiyev highlighted that a primary topic of discussion will be the issue of returning "illegally seized diplomatic property." This is vital for normalising relations between the countries, Darchiyev noted, as quoted by the Kremlin's RIA Novosti agency. The properties in question include two compounds, one in Maryland and the other on Long Island, which were seized by US authorities in 2016. At that time, then-President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats, citing interference in the US presidential elections.
The meeting will also cover the resumption of direct air connections between Russia and the USA. These flights were suspended by Washington in February 2022, following the Kremlin's initiation of a full-scale war in Ukraine. Restoring air travel would not only facilitate official contacts but also ease the lives of ordinary people on both sides of the Atlantic, added the Russian ambassador.
- This is about addressing the 'toxic legacy' of the previous US administration, which imposed severe restrictions on the activities of Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, including limitations on diplomats' movement within the host country, financial and visa restrictions, and severely diminished interstate relations, emphasised Darchiyev.
The process of gradually rebuilding relations between Moscow and Washington began in Riyadh in February. Both sides agreed to create conditions for the full resumption of bilateral cooperation and to lift restrictions on embassy activities. In recent months, presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have spoken by phone twice, discussing cooperation between the two countries. However, a breakthrough towards a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine was not achieved.
