Rabia Iclal Turan
28 February 2025•Update: 28 February 2025
WASHINGTON
US and Russian delegations met Thursday in Istanbul, Türkiye to identify initial steps to stabilize operations of their diplomatic missions, said the US State Department.
"The United States 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," it said in a statement.
"Through constructive discussions, both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations in these areas," it added.
The discussions followed a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, where both sides agreed to initiate talks on issues affecting their respective diplomatic missions.
The US delegation was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe Sonata Coulter, while the Russian side was headed by Ambassador Alexander Darchiev, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North American Department.
Coulter and Darchiev agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in the near future, with details on the date, location and representation yet to be determined, according to the State Department.
