The process of diplomatic re-engagement between the US and Russia will continue on Thursday (27) in the Turkish city of Istanbul, where the two nuclear superpowers will engage in a ‘technical-level’ meeting.
Diplomats from the US and Russia are meeting in Istanbul to discuss the operation of their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington, according to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Associated Press reported:
“The meeting follows Russia-U.S. talks in Saudi Arabia last week that marked an extraordinary shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and a clear departure from U.S.-led efforts to isolate Russia over its war in Ukraine.
At the talks, Moscow and Washington agreed to start working toward ending the war and improving their diplomatic and economic ties. That includes restoring the staffing at embassies, which in recent years were hit hard by mutual expulsions of large numbers of diplomats and other restrictions.”
The US Embassy in Ankara confirmed that the American and Russian delegations will hold talks on issues hindering the operation of respective diplomatic missions.
We can call it the ‘first things first’ approach to a détente after the bilateral relations sunk to ‘cold war lows’ during the Joe Biden administration from hell.
The Kremlin has stated that the previous Riyadh meeting was meant to restore bilateral relations and dialogue between the two countries, something that can clear the way for peace talks in the future.
“Speaking to journalists during a visit to Qatar, Lavrov said that ‘diplomats of high-level, experts’ will meet in Istanbul on Thursday. He said they will discuss ‘the systemic problems that have accumulated as a result of the unlawful activities of the previous (U.S.) administration to create artificial obstacles for the work of the Russian embassy, to which we, naturally, reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American embassy in Moscow’.”
Reuters reported:
“The outcome of the Istanbul talks – which follow a call between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on February 12 and a high-level Russian-U.S. meeting in Saudi Arabia on February 18 – ‘will show how quickly and effectively we can move’, Lavrov said.”
The two sides will first clear technical barriers to diplomatic relations and then tackle more ambitious goals.
“As talks progress, both countries have said they want to explore the possibility of lucrative business ventures, as well as seeking an end to the Ukraine war. Putin said this week that Moscow would be ready to invite the U.S. to enter joint projects to tap rare earth deposits in Russia and in the parts of Ukraine that it has claimed as its own territory.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: Trump and Putin will meet in person ‘after thorough preparation’, but so far there are no details yet on the ‘when and where’.
In a different Reuters report, we learn that peace negotiations are not yet slated to be discussed.
“Ukraine will not be on the agenda when U.S. and Russian officials meet in Istanbul on Thursday for talks over the operation of their respective diplomatic missions, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday.
‘To be clear, there are no political or security issues on the agenda. Ukraine is not on the agenda’, the spokesperson said by email.”
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