United States and Russia Hold Technical Talks in Istanbul on Embassy Operations

ISTANBUL, 10 April 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Delegations from the United States and Russia convened in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss the restoration of normal operations at their respective embassies, amid years of strained diplomatic relations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Focus on Diplomatic Functioning, Not Politics

This is the second such meeting between the two nations since President Donald Trump’s return to office. Although his administration has extended overtures to Moscow in hopes of warming ties, Thursday’s discussions were strictly technical.

According to US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

“There are no political or security issues on the agenda, and Ukraine is not – absolutely not – on the agenda. The two sides will try to make progress on further stabilising the operations of our bilateral missions.”

Both delegations arrived at the Russian Consulate building in Istanbul, where discussions were expected to last several hours, Russian news agencies reported.

The Context: Years of Diplomatic Deterioration

Relations between Washington and Moscow have sharply deteriorated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, plunging to their lowest point since the Cold War era. A series of diplomatic expulsions, sanctions, and tit-for-tat restrictions resulted in both countries operating their embassies with minimal staff.

Russia Seeks Reversal of Past Restrictions

Alexander Darchiev, Russia’s envoy to the United States, stated on Wednesday that the focus of the discussions would be on:

“Getting rid of the toxic legacy of the previous US administration, which set strict limits on the activities of Russian diplomatic missions.”

Moscow is also calling for the return of diplomatic properties in the United States, including two summer residences previously used by embassy staff, which Russia says were “seized” by Washington.

Multiple Tracks of Dialogue Ongoing

Since early 2025, both countries have been involved in several layers of diplomatic dialogue, although tensions remain high over broader geopolitical matters.

Current US–Russia Dialogue Tracks:

While no breakthroughs are expected from the Istanbul session, it reflects a renewed effort to maintain diplomatic functionality, even as deeper political rifts remain unresolved.