American and Russian delegations meet in Turkish Istanbul on Thursday for talks on reopening their respective embassies.
Both countries' embassies drastically reduced their staffing after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The talks take place after President Donald Trump extended an olive branch to Russia at the beginning of his second term. There, he stated that the countries' relationship can improve if Russia ceases hostilities in Ukraine.
According to an AFP reporter, the delegations meet at the Russian consulate, and according to Russian news agencies, the talks are expected to last for hours.
The US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has previously emphasized that the war in Ukraine will not be discussed.
