According to the State Department, the US has worries about steady staffing, contractual services, and banking access at its embassy in Moscow.
According to the US State Department, US and Russian delegations convened in Istanbul, Turkey, to determine the first steps to stabilize the operations of respective diplomatic missions.
“The United States raised concerns regarding access to banking and contracted services as well as the need to ensure stable and sustainable staffing levels at the US Embassy in Moscow”, the statement read.
“Through constructive discussions, both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilise bilateral mission operation in these areas”, said the statement.
The negotiations came after a February 18 meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where both parties decided to start a dialogue on matters impacting their respective diplomatic posts.
Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe, led the US mission, while Alexander Darchiev, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North American Department, led the Russian group.
According to the State Department, Coulter and Darchiev decided to meet again soon, but the specifics of the time, place, and representation have not yet been decided.
