Reviving Diplomatic Ties: U.S. and Russia Explore Embassy Staffing and Flight Restoration in Istanbul Talks

Russian and American diplomats engaged in discussions on Thursday in Istanbul aimed at reinstating regular operations at their embassies and potentially resuming direct flights between the two nations, according to officials from both sides.

The talks, which extended for more than six hours, took place at the residence of the U.S. Consul General and followed a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia just days earlier.

Present at the meeting were Sonata Coulter, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe, and Alexander Darchiyev, head of the North Atlantic Department within the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement late Thursday highlighting that concerns were raised about access to banking services and contracted services, as well as the necessity to maintain stable staffing levels at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

In November, the business newspaper Kommersant reported that Russia had nominated Darchiyev as its next ambassador to the United States. Since Anatoly Antonov returned to Moscow in October, Russia has not had an ambassador in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, indicated that officials in Istanbul reached an agreement on collective actions to guarantee continuous funding for diplomatic missions in both countries, enabling diplomats to perform their duties effectively.

Specifically, Moscow is requesting the return of six Russian-owned properties that were confiscated between 2016 and 2018, as mentioned by Zakharova. The Russian diplomats also suggested the reestablishment of direct flights between the United States and Russia, which were halted shortly after the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Zakharova characterized the talks in Istanbul as “constructive and businesslike,” noting that both parties agreed to maintain a dialogue through diplomatic channels.

The U.S. State Department also announced plans for a follow-up meeting “in the near term,” although no further details were provided.

Over the past decade, Russia and the United States have experienced numerous rounds of diplomatic expulsions, resulting in a significant decrease in the staffing levels of their respective embassies.

In 2016, the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian facilities in response to allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia led to additional diplomatic reductions, leaving embassies with minimal staff to navigate operations.

Since taking office last month, U.S. President Donald Trump has made efforts to reset relations with Moscow, initiating high-level discussions with Kremlin officials for the first time in more than three years.