US and Russian delegations met in Istanbul, Turkey, to take initial steps toward stabilizing the operations of their diplomatic missions, according to the US State Department.
In a statement released Thursday, the State Department said that the United States raised concerns over issues such as banking access, contracted services, and ensuring stable staffing levels at the US Embassy in Moscow.
“Through constructive discussions, both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations in these areas,” the statement added.
The meeting followed a prior discussion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, where both sides agreed to initiate talks on issues affecting their diplomatic missions.
The US delegation was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe Sonata Coulter, while the Russian side was headed by Ambassador Alexander Darchiev, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North American Department.
Coulter and Darchiev agreed to hold a follow-up meeting, although details regarding the date, location, and representation are still to be determined.
