Senior Russian and American negotiators held six hour talks in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday (February 27), aimed at restoring the normal operation of the embassies of the two countries. This meeting is a preliminary attempt by the Trump administration to ease US Russia relations after taking office. Although the agenda is limited to embassy operations and does not involve the issue of Ukraine, it is still seen as a preliminary test for the two countries to rebuild their relationship.

Background and purpose of the meeting

Since Biden took office, US Russia relations have sharply cooled, with both sides expelling diplomats and restricting personnel appointments, leading to difficulties in embassy operations. After taking office, the Trump administration quickly adjusted its policies and engaged with Moscow, including a phone call with Putin on February 12th and subsequent high-level talks. The talks in Türkiye are a continuation of this series of contacts aimed at solving practical problems such as staffing and visas of the embassy.

Content and outcome of the meeting

The talks were held at the residence of the US Consul General in Istanbul, lasting about six hours, but no specific information was released to the media. The US State Department has made it clear that the talks only involve technical issues related to embassy operations and do not involve political or security issues, and the Ukraine issue is not on the agenda. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova stated that this meeting is expected to initiate a series of follow-up contacts to build trust and eliminate "irritants" in bilateral relations.

Concerns between Ukraine and Europe

Ukraine and its European allies have expressed concerns about the rapid reconciliation between the Trump administration and Moscow, fearing that it could lead to a ceasefire agreement that marginalizes them and harm their security interests. Putin has lowered his expectations for a quick agreement and emphasized the need to rebuild trust between Russia and the United States first.

Potential impacts and future prospects

Although the content of this meeting is limited, it may pave the way for progress in other areas of US Russia relations, such as nuclear disarmament and economic cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that the outcome of the talks will demonstrate whether both sides can take swift and effective action. In addition, Alexander Darchiyev, the head of the Russian delegation, is considered a popular candidate for the next ambassador to the United States, and this appointment may further promote the development of bilateral relations.

Summary: The talks have broken the ice in US Russia relations, but future challenges still exist

The Türkiye talks are an initial attempt to ease relations between the United States and Russia. Although the topic is limited to the operation of the embassy, it has laid a foundation for the two sides to rebuild trust and solve broader issues. However, the Ukrainian issue remains a sensitive point in US Russian relations, and the concerns of European allies also need to be addressed appropriately. In the future, whether the United States and Russia can make substantial progress in areas such as nuclear disarmament and economic cooperation will depend on whether both sides can find common interests in the complex geopolitical environment. Although this meeting did not involve the issue of Ukraine, its symbolic significance and potential impact cannot be ignored.

This meeting shows that both the United States and Russia are trying to ease tensions, although the agenda is limited, it may still reduce geopolitical risks. If the market believes that the improvement of US Russia relations will contribute to global stability, risk aversion may weaken and exert short-term pressure on gold prices, but the long-term impact still needs to be observed in the further evolution of US Russia relations.