Russia and the United States began the second round of diplomatic consultations in Istanbul on Thursday, focusing on improving the operational conditions of their embassies and resolving long-standing diplomatic disputes.

The Russian delegation is led by Ambassador Alexander Darchiev, Moscow’s envoy to Washington, while the US team is headed by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs. The discussions are taking place at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul and are expected to last several hours.

According to reports, a major portion of the negotiations has already been covered, but talks may continue for four to five hours. The talks aim to address the “toxic legacy” of previous US policies, which Moscow claims imposed harsh restrictions on Russian diplomatic activities.

Darchiev emphasized that Russia is ready for serious dialogue, especially regarding the return of diplomatic property that Russia alleges was unlawfully seized by Washington. Other agenda items include movement of diplomats, visa restrictions, and financial limitations affecting diplomatic missions.

The first round of these consultations was held at the US Consul General’s residence in Istanbul on February 27 and lasted more than six hours.

Following that meeting, both sides agreed to pursue joint steps ensuring uninterrupted financing of diplomatic missions. Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that they also addressed “numerous irritants” in bilateral ties and discussed creating better working conditions for diplomats in both countries.

Moscow specifically raised concerns over six Russian diplomatic properties in the US that it claims were seized between 2016 and 2018. Russia also proposed the restoration of direct flights between the two nations, calling for practical steps that could help normalize relations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed that officials agreed to continue diplomatic contacts and emphasized the importance of ensuring embassies can operate without financial or administrative hindrances.

In recent years, Russia and the US have significantly reduced their diplomatic staffing by expelling each other’s diplomats, contributing to the strained relations. These ongoing talks aim to reverse that trend and improve working conditions for both nations’ diplomatic missions.