Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul

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A Russian delegation arrived at the US consul general’s residence in Istanbul on Thursday for talks aimed at addressing disputes between the two countries regarding their embassies in Washington and Moscow.

Although the discussions will be limited in scope and will not cover Ukraine, they are expected to serve as an important indicator of both nations’ willingness to mend relations and work toward resolving the ongoing conflict.

This meeting follows a phone call on February 12 between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former President Donald Trump, as well as a high-level diplomatic meeting in Saudi Arabia on February 18.

Trump, who has been in office for just over five weeks, has shifted the approach of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who had focused on isolating and sanctioning Russia for its actions in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and its European partners are concerned that Trump’s efforts to quickly end the war could result in a deal with Russia that excludes them and threatens their security.

The US State Department clarified that the Thursday talks, led by lower-level officials, would not include discussions on Ukraine or political and security matters but would still serve as a gauge of Russia’s intentions.

“To be clear, there are no political or security issues on the agenda. Ukraine is not  on the agenda.

“The constructiveness of these talks will become apparent very quickly; either issues will get resolved or they won’t. We will know soon if Russia is really willing to engage in good faith,” a State Department spokesperson said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained that the focus of the talks would be on improving the conditions for Russian diplomats in the United States and for US diplomats in Russia, following tensions over staffing levels and embassy properties.

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