Russia-USA talks in Istanbul: Will seized properties be returned?
Representatives from Russia and the USA will meet on Thursday in Istanbul to discuss several important topics, including the return of Russian diplomatic properties and the resumption of air connections between the two countries. This information was provided by the Russian ambassador to the USA, Alexander Darchiyev, as reported by the RIA Novosti agency.
On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that representatives from the Russian diplomatic department would participate in the negotiations between Russia and the USA in Istanbul, with Darchiyev heading the delegation. The American side will be led by Sonata Coulter, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the USA.
USA-Russia talks: Will they restore air connections?
On Wednesday, Alexander Darchiyev emphasized that a key topic of the talks will be the return of "illegally seized diplomatic property." He noted that this is crucial for normalizing relations between the countries, as quoted by the RIA Novosti agency. The properties in question include two complexes, one in Maryland and the other on Long Island, which were seized by the US authorities in 2016. This action occurred when then-President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russians from the country, citing their interference in the US presidential elections.
The meeting will also address the resumption of direct air connections between Russia and the USA. These connections were suspended by Washington in February 2022, following the Kremlin's initiation of a full-scale war in Ukraine. The Russian ambassador added that resuming these flights would not only facilitate official contacts but also make life easier for ordinary people on both sides of the ocean.
Alexander Darchiyev also mentioned the need to eliminate the "toxic legacy" of the previous American administration, which imposed restrictions on Russian diplomatic missions in the USA, implemented visa and financial restrictions, and minimized relations and contacts between societies and nations.
The process of gradually rebuilding relations between Moscow and Washington began in February in Riyadh. Both sides agreed to create conditions for the full resumption of bilateral cooperation and to remove restrictions on embassy work. In recent months, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have spoken twice by phone, discussing cooperation between the countries. However, a breakthrough for a lasting truce in Ukraine has not yet been achieved.
