U.S. and Russian officials convened in Istanbul this week for renewed negotiations aimed at resolving operational challenges facing their respective diplomatic missions. The talks, held at the Russian consulate on Thursday, mark the second round of discussions since February 27, reflecting mutual interest in stabilizing strained consular relations.
Russia's new Ambassador to the U.S., Alexander Darchiev, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter led the dialogue, which focused exclusively on easing bureaucratic hurdles affecting embassy functions. Both sides emphasized the technical nature of the discussions, with the U.S. State Department clarifying that broader bilateral issues—particularly the Ukraine conflict—remain outside the scope of these meetings.
"These talks are solely focused on our embassy operations," stated U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, reiterating that normalization of U.S.-Russia relations hinges on resolving the Ukraine crisis. The diplomatic rift deepened in recent years following reciprocal expulsions of embassy staff, severely limiting visa services and citizen assistance capabilities.
While no immediate breakthroughs were announced, the continuation of dialogue signals cautious engagement between Washington and Moscow. Observers note that functional diplomacy could create pathways for future negotiations on more contentious geopolitical matters.
