Moscow: Moscow and Washington have reached an agreement on measures to ensure the continuous funding of their diplomatic missions in both countries, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Delegations from Russia and the US met in Istanbul, Turkey, for over six hours on Thursday, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Following the closed meeting, the Ministry announced that the discussions focused on addressing various “irritants” affecting bilateral relations. They agreed on reciprocal steps to facilitate the funding of their diplomatic missions and to create conditions that enable diplomats to fulfill their official responsibilities effectively.
The Russian delegation was led by Alexander Darchiev, director of the North Atlantic Department, while Sonata Coulter, deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for Russia and Central Europe, headed the US delegation.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the talks included how to address lingering issues resulting from previous US administrations. Additionally, Russia brought up the topic of its diplomatic properties in the US, specifically six properties it claims were “illegally seized” between 2016 and 2018.
Russia also suggested that the US consider reinstating direct flights and stressed the importance of achieving practical outcomes to enhance bilateral relations for the benefit of both nations. The statement concluded by emphasizing the commitment to continue diplomatic engagement moving forward.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, reiterated on Friday that officials in Istanbul had agreed on strategies to ensure the uninterrupted funding of diplomatic missions and to create suitable conditions for effective diplomatic operations. In recent years, both countries have frequently expelled each other’s diplomats, leading to a significant reduction in embassy staff levels.