U.S. and Russia move toward normalizing relations and easing diplomatic work
The United States and Russia both said on Thursday that they had made progress toward normalizing the work of their diplomatic missions.
The United States and Russia both said on Thursday that they had made progress toward normalizing the work of their diplomatic missions, with the United States saying it was still concerned about a Russian policy prohibiting the employment of local staff.
The meeting of the U.S. and Russian delegations in Istanbul followed initial talks in February after the war in Ukraine triggered the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the depths of the Cold War.
The talks were led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe Sonata Coulter and Russia’s new ambassador to Washington, Alexander Darchiev.
A vehicle believed to be carrying U.S. officials enters the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul on Thursday.Kirill Zykov / Sputnik via APThe U.S. delegation spent some six hours at the Russian consulate building in central Istanbul for the talks, a Reuters witness said. A State Department spokesperson had said on Tuesday that Ukraine was not on the agenda.
The State Department said Thursday’s talks continued “the constructive approach” established in the February 27 meeting.
Rating: 5