by TASS [2-28-2025 published].

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department Director Alexander Darchiyev headed the Russian delegation.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the latest round of Russian-US talks that took place in Istanbul on Thursday as very constructive.

Russia addressed the United States with a proposal to consider reopening direct flights between the two countries, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

TASS has compiled the key takeaways from the meeting.

Istanbul meeting

• Russian and US delegations met in Istanbul on February 27.
• The US delegation was led by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe, who, among other things, is in charge of Russia-related affairs.
• The Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department Director Alexander Darchiyev headed the Russian delegation.

MFA’s press release

• The "substantive" talks were business-like, with the two sides agreeing to continue communication via this channel, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
• Russia floated the idea of restoring direct flights between the two countries, the Russian ministry revealed.
• According to it, the two sides also coordinated joint steps on financing for their diplomatic missions and discussed ways to remove multiple "irritants" in bilateral relations.

Comment from US Department of State

• The US Department of State said in a press release that the US delegates "raised concerns" regarding access to banking transactions and contracted services as they also highlighted the need "to ensure stable and sustainable staffing levels at the US Embassy in Moscow."
• According to the US foreign policy body, the two sides agreed to hold "a follow-up meeting on these issues" in the near future. The date, location, and representation will be determined later, it said.

US agrees to appointment of Darchiev as new Russian ambassador — Russian MFA

by TASS [2-28-2025 published].

(Notice that Alexander Darchiev headed the Russian delegation that met with US counterparts on 2-27-2025 in Instanbul. — RAD)

Alexander Darchiev is expected to depart for Washington shortly.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. The US greenlighted the appointment of Alexander Darchiev as Russia’s new ambassador, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"During the consultations that the delegations of Russia and the US held on February 27 in Istanbul to discuss a normalization of the operation of the two countries’ diplomatic missions, the American side handed over an official note with an agrement for the appointment of the director of the North Atlantic Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Nikitich Darchiev, as the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United States of America," the statement said.

He is expected to depart for Washington shortly.

Darchiev was born in 1960. He graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1983 with a degree in history. Darchiev enrolled in the diplomatic service in 1992, taking the job of first secretary at the Foreign Ministry’s North America Department. He then served as head of division at the department until 1997. From 1997 to 2002, he was counselor of the Russian Embassy in the US. From 2003 to 2005, Darchiev had the job of deputy director of the North America Department at the Foreign Ministry. From 2005 to 2010, he served as minister counselor at the Russian Embassy in the US. From 2010 to 2014, he was director of the North America Department at the Foreign Ministry. In October 2014, Darchiev was appointed Russia's ambassador to Canada, a post he held until January 2021. From 2021 to 2025, he served as director of the North America Department at the Foreign Ministry, a unit responsible for ties with the US and Canada. In 2025, he was named director of the Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department, which oversees relations with the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US.

Darchiev is proficient in English and French.

Moscow and Washington tight-lipped on results of six-hour talks

by RT [2-28-2025 published].

US and Russian diplomats have shared few details of their closed-door discussions in Istanbul, but have agreed to hold “follow-up” meetings.

Russian and US officials held a lengthy expert-level meeting in Türkiye on Thursday (2-27-2025) to discuss resolving ongoing diplomatic disputes, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

The meeting, which follows a series of high-level bilateral contacts, was reportedly aimed at addressing obstacles hindering the operations of the Russian Embassy in Washington and the US Embassy in Moscow, including banking access and staffing levels.

Zakharova emphasized the significance of the meeting, stating that it sought to “explore pathways for resolving numerous irritants that persist in bilateral dialogue due to the groundwork laid by the destructive actions of previous US administrations.”

The delegations wrapped up their talks without making any public statements, although Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said details about the outcome would be provided “one way or another.” The sides did unveil the composition of their delegations, but according to the State Department, the US group was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe Sonata Coulter, while Russian side was represented by Ambassador Aleksandr Darchiev, the chief of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department.

“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 State Department said in a brief statement. “Through constructive discussions, both sides identified concrete initial steps to stabilize bilateral mission operations in these areas.”

Zakharova said the deterioration of relations was not Russia’s choice and that Moscow’s actions have been proportionate responses to Washington’s moves. Both delegations acknowledged the need to stabilize diplomatic operations and improve communication.

The discussions, which lasted over six hours, are expected to be the first in a series of expert consultations designed to resolve differences and build confidence between the two countries. Both delegations agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in the near future, with the date, location, and representation yet to be determined.

Under the administration of President Donald Trump, the US and Russia have begun gradually restoring contacts that were virtually non-existent for approximately three years under his predecessor, Joe Biden. A phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12 was followed by a high-level Russia-US meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Putin characterized the discussions as “a first step” toward normalization of ties, a sentiment later echoed by Trump. While neither head of state attended the talks – the first in three years – they were conducted by high-level officials, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Neither Ukrainian nor EU diplomats were invited to the meeting.

The latest talks in Istanbul, according to Zakharova, were the first in a planned series of expert consultations aimed at fostering confidence-building measures. She noted that both sides recognize the necessity of preventing further deterioration in diplomatic relations and working toward a more constructive dialogue.

Related

Russian delegation arrives for new talks with US (VIDEO) [2-27-2025]

Putin warns of attempts to sabotage talks with US [2-27-2025]