"Ukraine Is Not, Absolutely Not on the Agenda" – US State Department on Russia Talks Set for April 10

The US State Department announced that American and Russian delegations will meet in Istanbul on April 10 to discuss the functioning of their diplomatic missions, according to Reuters on April 8.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that the discussions will be limited to embassy operations and will not address political or security matters.

“Ukraine is not, absolutely not on the agenda,” she stated, adding that these talks are not aimed at normalizing broader relations, which would require peace between Russia and Ukraine.

The meeting, reportedly set to take place at the Russian consulate in Istanbul, follows a similar discussion in February. That earlier round focused on restoring embassy functions amid years of diplomatic restrictions, including staff reductions and expulsions.

According to Russian media, Russia’s delegation will be led by newly appointed Ambassador to the US, Alexander Darchiev, while the US delegation will be headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter. Both delegations will consist solely of diplomats and will focus on practical matters related to their embassies.

Previously, it was reported that the next round of diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia will take place on April 10 in Istanbul, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, according to Russian media Gazeta.ru on April 8.