Russian and U.S. diplomats have held talks in Istanbul to discuss ways to normalize the operation of their embassies after diplomatic expulsions.

Russian officials have announced that a new round of talks with their US counterparts regarding the functioning of embassies commenced in Istanbul on 26 February. Source: European Pravda, citing Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti Details: The talks are taking place at the residence of the US Consul General in Istanbul.

ISTANBUL - Russian and U.S. diplomats met in Turkey on Thursday for talks to resolve disputes over their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, a first test of their ability to reset wider relations and work towards ending the war in Ukraine.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington to sign a dictated agreement that only "partially" includes security guarantees for Ukraine, Donald Trump shut the door on Kyiv’s NATO aspirations.

Putin hailed the Trump administration's "pragmatism and realistic view” compared with what he described as the “stereotypes and messianic ideological cliches” of its predecessors.

Russian and U.S. teams held six hours of talks in Turkey on Thursday to try to restore the normal functioning of their embassies, and President Vladimir Putin said initial contacts with Donald Trump's new administration had inspired hope.

The United States and Russia held "constructive discussions" regarding their diplomatic missions during a meeting in Türkiye on Thursday, February 27. The parties agreed to hold another meeting "in the near term,