By Dmitry Antonov and Simon Lewis, Reuters
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the talks will focus on creating better conditions for Russian diplomats in the US and their US counterparts in Russia, after a series of rows. Photo: AFP
Russian and US diplomats will meet in Istanbul on Thursday for talks aimed at restoring their respective diplomatic missions, seen as a step towards ending the war in Ukraine, both sides said on Wednesday.
The talks come as the administration of President Donald Trump reversed his predecessor Joe Biden's policy to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and instead focus on restoring ties with Moscow and ending the three-year war with Kyiv.
The rapprochement began after a call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on 12 February, followed by a high-level meeting between the two sides last week in Riyadh.
Delegations led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed in Saudi Arabia to open
discussions on diplomatic missions.
The warming of ties between Washington and Moscow has alarmed European allies.
The US State Department said Thursday's talks, which will be led by working level officials, will not include any discussions on Ukraine but will still be seen as a test of Moscow's desire to genuinely engage.
"To be clear, there are no political or security issues on the agenda. Ukraine is not on the agenda," a State Department spokesperson said.
"The constructiveness of these talks will become apparent very quickly; either issues will get resolved or they won't. We will know soon if Russia is really willing to engage in good faith," the spokesperson added.
Earlier, Lavrov said the talks would focus on creating better conditions for Russian diplomats in the United States and their US counterparts in Russia, after a series of rows over staffing levels and embassy properties. The outcome "will show how quickly and effectively we can move", Lavrov said.
Trump has said he wants to move quickly towards a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Putin this week tempered expectations of rapid progress, saying nothing could be achieved without restoring trust between Russia and the United States.
Vladimir Putin, left, and Donald Trump during a summit in Osaka in Japan in 2019. Photo: AFP
'Systemic problems'
The US delegation will be led by deputy assistant secretary of state Sonata Coulter; the Russian delegation by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs director of the North Atlantic department, Aleksandr Darchiyev.
The two countries have expelled diplomats and limited the appointment of new staff at each other's missions in a series of tit-for-tat measures over the past decade, leaving their respective embassies thinly staffed.
"Our high-level diplomats, experts, will meet and consider the systemic problems that have accumulated as a result of the illegal activities of the previous (US) administration to create artificial obstacles for the activities of the Russian embassy, which we, naturally, reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American embassy in Moscow," Lavrov said.
The State Department spokesperson said the respective embassies in Moscow and Washington, as well as Russian consulates in New York and Houston, would be discussed on Thursday, but not Russia's mission to the United Nations.
"Specific issues on the agenda include staffing levels, visas, diplomatic banking, and other operational issues."
Both countries have said they want to explore the possibility of lucrative business ventures, as well as seeking an end to the Ukraine war. Putin said this week that Moscow would be ready to invite the US to enter joint projects to tap rare earth deposits in Russia and in the parts of Ukraine that it has claimed as its own territory.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Wednesday that there was an understanding that Trump and Putin should meet in person after thorough preparation, but said there were no details yet on when and where this would happen.
He said the two leaders could speak again by phone if needed, but there were no current plans for this.
-Reuters
