Russia Seeks Autumn Talks With U.S. to Improve Diplomatic Relations

Russia is pushing for a new round of talks with the United States this autumn to address ongoing issues in their strained relations, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The discussions, expected to focus on diplomatic operations and embassy functions, would build on earlier meetings held in Istanbul in February and April, where both sides reported progress.

Ryabkov told state news agency TASS that the delay in scheduling another meeting stemmed from a mutual desire to avoid talks that yielded no meaningful results. “The primary reason was that we did not want such a meeting to be without tangible progress,” he said, stressing that both sides preferred to work behind the scenes to lay a foundation for substantive agreements.

While technical and scheduling issues had played a role, Ryabkov emphasized that the main concern was ensuring forward momentum. He added that with political will on both sides, logistical matters could be resolved quickly once a concrete agenda was in place.

The February and April talks in Istanbul lasted several hours, with the U.S. delegation meeting Russian officials at the consulate in central Istanbul. A State Department spokesperson said the discussions did not focus on Ukraine, but rather on maintaining “a constructive approach” to diplomatic relations.

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, no breakthrough has yet been reached on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has lasted more than three and a half years. Still, Moscow remains optimistic that structured dialogue with Washington could pave the way for better cooperation.

Russia hopes that by the end of autumn, both nations will be ready to hold meaningful talks that could address longstanding diplomatic tensions and set the stage for future negotiations.