Russia, US to hold talks on Thursday in Turkiye: Lavrov
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The upcoming talks come as part of intensified efforts by the two countries to resolve diplomatic conflicts and end the war in Ukraine.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 (AP)
Russia and United States diplomats will hold a meeting in Istanbul, Turkiye on Thursday, to discuss resolving bilateral disputes as part of a broad effort to lead towards an end to the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
Lavrov asserted that the talks would work towards creating better conditions for Russian diplomats in the US and vice-versa, after diplomatic relations were disrupted between the two countries due to differences over staffing levels and embassy properties.
He added that the results of these talks "will show how quickly and effectively we can move," as the agenda for these negotiations focuses on technical barriers to diplomatic relations between the two countries.
"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 administration to create artificial obstacles for the activities of the Russian embassy, ​​to which we, naturally, reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American embassy in Moscow," he affirmed.
Russia, US, move towards fixing relations
These talks follow an announcement that a high-level Russia-US meeting to remove "irritants in bilateral relations was set to take place within two weeks by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov cited by RIA Novsoty on February 22.
"There is a principal agreement to hold relevant comprehensive consultations for the systematic and detailed development of the entire block of so-called irritants," Ryabkov affirmed, noting that "Our readiness to launch this work as quickly as possible has been confirmed to the Americans."
This announcement followed a crucial meeting between Russian and US diplomats in Riyadh on February 18, where they decreed to initiate efforts towards ending the war in Ukraine and improving the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined three main goals: re-staffing embassies in Washington and Moscow, forming a high-level team to advocate peace negotiations in Ukraine, and exploring tighter contacts and economic cooperation.
This was preceded by a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin which covered a broad range of topics including the war in Ukraine, revealed by President Trump on February 12.
