A Russian delegation arrived at the U.S. Consulate General residence in Istanbul on Wednesday for talks aimed at resolving diplomatic issues between Washington and Moscow, as part of efforts to normalize relations.
The Russian officials arrived at 09:50 a.m. local time (0650 GMT), following confirmation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish diplomatic sources that the meeting would take place.
“We announced that our diplomats and high-level experts would meet to address the systemic problems created by the illegal actions of the previous (U.S.) administration, which imposed artificial obstacles on the Russian Embassy’s activities. Naturally, we reciprocated, making conditions equally difficult for the American Embassy in Moscow,” Lavrov said at a press briefing in Doha, Qatar.
The meeting follows a prior round of talks held on Feb. 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where officials from both countries discussed bilateral relations and efforts to end the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though no date has been announced.
Türkiye has reiterated its willingness to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between the two sides as part of broader efforts to support peace.