Russian and US diplomats meet in Turkey for talks on repairing ties

On Thursday, diplomats from Russia and the U.S. gathered in Turkey for discussions aimed at addressing disagreements regarding the operations of their embassies in Washington and Moscow, marking an initial challenge in their efforts to reboot broader relations and progress towards concluding the conflict in Ukraine.

Last year, the Kremlin characterized relations as “below zero” during Joe Biden’s administration, which supported Ukraine with assistance and arms while imposing multiple sanctions on Russia as punishment for its invasion in 2022.

However, his successor, President Donald Trump, has disrupted that policy and rapidly initiated discussions with Moscow since assuming office last month, committing to realize his ongoing promise to swiftly conclude the war. The discussions in Istanbul come after a phone conversation between Trump and President Vladimir Putin on February 12, as well as a top-tier diplomatic meeting in Saudi Arabia six days afterward.

The Russian group showed up in a black Mercedes van for the commencement of the meeting at the gated home of the U.S. consul general in Istanbul. Russian state television reported that the discussions were anticipated to continue for five to six hours.

Ukraine and its European partners are concerned that Trump’s swift thaw in relations with Moscow might result in a peace agreement that excludes them and threatens their security. Trump claims he aims to stop the violence with a quick ceasefire.

This week, Putin adjusted hopes for a swift agreement, stating that rebuilding trust between Russia and the United States is crucial before any progress can be made. Over the past ten years, both nations have expelled diplomats and restricted the hiring of new personnel at each other’s missions in a back-and-forth exchange, resulting in sparsely staffed embassies.

Both parties have expressed that they recognize opportunities for profitable business endeavors. This week, Putin stated that Moscow would be prepared to extend an invitation to the U.S. to participate in collaborative projects aimed at extracting rare earth minerals in Russia and in the regions of Ukraine that it has designated as its territory.

The U.S. team in Istanbul was headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, while the Russian contingent was led by Alexander Darchiyev, who is the chief of the foreign ministry’s North America division. Darchiyev is regarded as the leading candidate for the position of Russia’s next ambassador to the U.S., which is presently unoccupied.