Istanbul: Istanbul will host a second round of talks tomorrow, Thursday, between delegations from the United States and Russia, as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and contributing to efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Turkish diplomatic sources reported that the meetings are scheduled to be held at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul. The Russian delegation will be headed by Alexander Darchev, who is expected to soon assume the position of Moscow’s ambassador to Washington, as cited by the Russian news agency TASS, referencing the Russian Foreign Ministry. The US side will be led by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russian and Central European Affairs.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously confirmed in media statements that the talks would be conducted at the level of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The first meeting between the two sides took place on February 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, followed by another round in Istanbul on the 27th of the same month, which lasted approximately six and a half hours at the US Consulate General.

Turkey has expressed its readiness to support efforts to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterating the country’s commitment to hosting relevant bilateral and international talks. Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been engaged in a military operation against Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv renounce its membership in Western military entities as a condition for ending the offensive. Kyiv views this demand as interference in its internal affairs.