Russia and US diplomats discuss restoring embassy operations

On February 27, 2025, in Istanbul, Russia and the United States held crucial discussions aimed at normalizing the operations of their respective embassies. This meeting came after years of escalating tensions characterized by mutual expulsions of diplomats and geopolitical disputes stemming from Russia's actions in Ukraine. The talks were a follow-up to earlier discussions held in Saudi Arabia, which marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Previously, relations had deteriorated to their lowest point since the Cold War due to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the meeting was to address systemic issues arising from prior U.S. administrative policies that obstructed the Russian embassy's work and created reciprocal discomfort for the U.S. embassy in Moscow. As the diplomats aimed to resolve these issues, both sides expressed hopes of restoring more stable and constructive diplomatic relations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov articulated that the meeting stemmed from an understanding developed during Trump's discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which included commitments to enhance diplomatic and economic ties. The wider implications of these talks may provide a pathway towards alleviating ongoing conflicts and restoring dialogue between the two nations.