A Russian delegation has arrived at the U.S. Consul General’s residence in Istanbul for talks between Moscow and Washington on embassy operations, TASS reported, citing its correspondent.
The discussions are taking place behind closed doors, and the composition of the delegations has not been disclosed.
According to RIA Novosti, the talks are already underway. TASS reported that they were scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Ahead of the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it would include “high-level diplomats and experts” who would address “systemic issues that have accumulated due to the unlawful actions of the previous [U.S.] administration, which created artificial obstacles for the Russian embassy’s operations.” In response, Russia “took reciprocal measures, making conditions difficult for the U.S. embassy in Moscow as well,” he said.
“I think the outcome of the meeting will make it clear how quickly and effectively we can move forward,” Lavrov added.
Following U.S.-Russia talks on February 18, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that both sides had agreed to restore embassy staffing levels. Later, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Washington had “agreed to resume the normal operation” of their diplomatic missions.