Delegations from the United States and Russia had conversations in Istanbul on Thursday about the normalization of the work of their diplomatic missions after the war in Ukraine triggered the greatest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.
A vehicle carrying the US delegation left the Russian Consulate building in the center of Istanbul on Thursday afternoon, about six hours after its arrival. The Russian delegation remained in the building.
The conversations would be conducted by Russia’s new ambassador in Washington, Alexander Darchiev, and Deputy Deputy Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
The main focus, according to Moscow and Washington, is to restore the work of diplomatic missions after relations between the two nuclear powers were complicated for years of disputes, mutual allegations of intimidation and even the freezing of diplomatic properties.
“Ukraine is not, absolutely not on the agenda,” said Tammy Bruce State Department spokesman on Tuesday.
“These conversations are focused exclusively on the operations of our embassy, ​​not the normalization of a bilateral relationship in general, which can only happen, as we observe, when there is peace between Russia and Ukraine.”
Both Moscow and Washington have complained in recent years about the difficulties of obtaining credentials for their diplomats, which makes the operation of their embassies extremely difficult.
Russia said that even the payment of diplomats has become difficult due to western restrictions, while US diplomats say their movements are restricted in Russia. Both sides complained of intimidation.
Among the problems is diplomatic property.
Washington has placed six Russian properties under restrictions, including Killenworth property in Long Island, Pioneer Point in Maryland, Russian consulates in San Francisco and Seattle, and commercial missions in Washington and New York.
This content was originally published in US and Russia delegations talk in Istanbul about diplomatic missions on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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