US and Russian delegations in Istanbul again: What topics will be discussed?
Following Donald Trump's election as president, contacts between the US and Russia have gained momentum again, continuing with a second diplomatic summit held in Istanbul. While the issue of Ukraine is being kept off the agenda, topics such as diplomatic properties and visa restrictions are on the table.
12punto
US-Russia diplomatic contacts, which have gained momentum following Donald Trump's election as US President, continue with a second summit held in Istanbul. Only one month after the first meeting, the parties have come together again in Istanbul, this time hosted by Russia.
According to foreign diplomatic sources, today's meeting began at 10:00 AM at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul. The Russian delegation entered the consulate at 09:27 AM, and the US delegation at 09:44 AM. The first meeting was held on February 27 at the residence belonging to the US Consulate General in Istanbul in Arnavutköy and lasted approximately 6.5 hours.
WHO IS LEADING THE DELEGATIONS?
According to Russian Foreign Ministry sources, the Russian delegation at today's Istanbul summit is led by Aleksandr Darchiyev, a high-level diplomat whose name has been mentioned for the position of Russia's Ambassador to Washington. The US delegation is headed by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe at the US Department of State.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated in a recent announcement that the Russian side is participating in the talks at the Foreign Ministry level.
TOPICS ON THE TABLE CLARIFIED
According to the TASS News Agency, the main agenda items for today's meeting in Istanbul include the return of Russian diplomatic properties seized by the US, the restoration of freedom of movement for diplomatic personnel, the lifting of visa and financial restrictions, and the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.
FIRST CONTACT ESTABLISHED IN RIYADH
Following Trump's inauguration, the first contact between the two countries took place on February 18 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. In that meeting, issues such as the restructuring of bilateral relations and ending the war in Ukraine were discussed.
SECOND POINT OF CONTACT IS ISTANBUL AGAIN
At the first Istanbul summit, which took place in the Arnavutköy district of Istanbul on February 27, embassy activities and the mutual status of diplomatic missions between the two countries were discussed. Following this meeting, which lasted approximately 6.5 hours, a message was conveyed that the process of normalizing relations would continue.
