IRIA News

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Diplomats from the United States and Russia met in Istanbul on February 27, 2025, to discuss longstanding disputes over their embassies in Washington and Moscow. This marked the first direct negotiation on the issue under the new administration of President Donald Trump.

The high-level talks come amid growing concerns from Ukraine and its European allies that Trump’s eagerness to engage with Russia could lead to a peace deal that compromises their security. However, both Washington and Moscow have insisted that Thursday’s discussions focused solely on diplomatic operations, not broader political or security issues.

The Russian delegation, led by Alexander Darchiyev, head of the foreign ministry’s North America department, arrived at the U.S. Consul General’s residence in Istanbul in a black Mercedes van. The U.S. team was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter. According to Russian state media, the talks lasted around 5-6 hours.

Istanbul meeting

The second round of talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats, held after discussions in Saudi Arabia, centered on normalizing the operations of their respective embassies following years of mutual diplomatic expulsions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the talks as “substantive and businesslike,” adding that both sides had agreed on “joint steps to ensure unimpeded financing of the activities of diplomatic missions of Russia and the United States on a reciprocal basis,” to create favorable conditions for diplomats to perform their official duties.

During the latest round of consultations, Russia proposed restoring direct air links between the two countries, a move that reflects broader efforts to rebuild ties after years of tension. U.S. and other Western nations severed air links with Russia as part of sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In Istanbul, the U.S. delegation “raised concerns regarding access to banking and contracted services as well as the need to ensure stable and sustainable staffing levels at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Through constructive discussions, both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations in these areas,” spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said.

📹 The Russian delegation, comprising experts on Russia-US relations, arrives at the venue of the talks with the US delegation in Istanbul pic.twitter.com/15fLz5rk8J

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) February 27, 2025

Speaking at the Federal Security Service meeting, Putin hailed the Trump administration’s “pragmatism and realistic view,” adding that “The first contacts with the new U.S. administration encourage certain hopes.”

US and Russia take steps to restore ties

Over the past decade, U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated significantly. A series of tit-for-tat measures, including the expulsion of diplomats, restrictions on embassy staffing, and the freezing of diplomatic bank accounts, have left both nations’ embassies in disarray. The U.S. State Department confirmed that Thursday’s talks centered on resolving these practical issues, including visa approvals and the reopening of consular services.

“To be clear, there are no political or security issues on the agenda. Ukraine is not on the agenda,” a State Department spokesperson stated before the meeting. “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.”

For Moscow, the embassy issue has been a point of contention for years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged that Russia had “created uncomfortable conditions” for U.S. diplomats in Moscow in response to Washington’s actions against Russian diplomats. Lavrov also stressed that the outcome of the Istanbul meeting “will show how quickly and effectively we can move.”

The Istanbul meeting follows a February 12 phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as a high-level diplomatic gathering in Saudi Arabia on February 18. In Riyadh, Moscow and Washington reached a consensus to work towards ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and to improve diplomatic and economic relations, including efforts to restore embassy staffing, which has been severely impacted by the expulsion of diplomats, and office closures in recent years.

These engagements signal a major shift from the policies of former President Joe Biden, whose administration imposed severe sanctions on Russia and provided substantial military aid to Ukraine in response to the 2022 invasion.

Since taking office last month, Trump has taken a dramatically different approach, moving quickly to engage Moscow in discussions aimed at de-escalating tensions. However, Russian officials remain cautious about the prospect of a rapid breakthrough.

“No one expects solutions to come easily and quickly. The problem at hand is too complex and neglected,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “But with the two countries’ political will, with a willingness to hear and listen to each other, I think we will be able to get through this working process.”

Broader relations

Despite their narrow focus, the discussions could serve as a first test of whether U.S.-Russia relations can be improved under the Trump administration. Observers suggest that success in these talks might open the door for future negotiations on nuclear arms control, economic cooperation, and even the eventual resolution of the war in Ukraine.

Economic ties are one area where both sides see potential benefits. Putin recently proposed joint U.S.-Russia projects for mining rare earth minerals in Russian-controlled territories, including parts of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed as its own. Peskov also mentioned the possibility of U.S.-Russia cooperation in the Arctic, though he clarified that no substantive discussions on the matter had taken place yet.

The Istanbul meeting also came amid speculation that Alexander Darchiyev, who led the Russian delegation, could soon be appointed as Russia’s next ambassador to the United States. The post has been vacant for months, and filling it could signal a renewed commitment to stabilizing diplomatic relations.

Ukraine and Europe on edge

While Washington and Moscow focus on rebuilding diplomatic channels, Ukraine and its European allies remain wary of Trump’s rapid diplomatic overtures. European leaders fear that a U.S.-Russia deal could come at their expense, especially if it leads to a rushed ceasefire in Ukraine that favors Moscow.

Putin himself has attempted to temper expectations, stating this week that rebuilding trust between Russia and the United States is a prerequisite for any major diplomatic breakthroughs.

Despite these concerns, Trump has made it clear that he wants to bring the war to a close as quickly as possible, arguing that prolonged conflict serves neither U.S. interests nor global stability. His approach represents a stark contrast to Biden’s policies, which emphasized military support for Ukraine and maintaining pressure on Russia through economic sanctions.

Lavrov and Coulter are expected to brief their respective governments on the discussions, and additional meetings could be scheduled depending on the progress made in Istanbul.