The United States and Russia engaged in productive discussions regarding their diplomatic missions during a meeting in Turkey, as confirmed by the State Department. Both parties have agreed to convene a follow-up meeting in the near future to address ongoing concerns.
During the meeting, the United States expressed apprehensions regarding access to banking services and contracted services, emphasizing the importance of maintaining stable staffing levels at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The discussions led to the identification of initial steps to enhance operational stability in these areas.
The U.S. delegation, led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, met with the Russian delegation, headed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of the North Atlantic Department Aleksandr Darchiyev in Istanbul. Both sides have committed to scheduling a subsequent meeting to delve deeper into these issues, with specifics such as date, location, and representation to be determined.
This meeting in Istanbul followed an agreement between Deputy Assistant Secretary Coulter and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to initiate talks on the matter after their recent meeting in Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials have described the situation at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as critical due to restrictions imposed by the Russian government.
Senator Rubio highlighted the challenges faced by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, citing limited functionality resulting from being denied access to the banking system. He emphasized the urgency of resolving these issues to ensure effective communication channels between the two countries, especially in critical situations such as the detention of American citizens.
