The sides are focused on improving diplomatic ties, according to the Russian foreign minister

Moscow and Washington are making progress in removing obstacles in diplomatic relations and plan to meet for the next round of talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists, Lavrov noted that both presidents had approved the continuation of negotiations.

"There was a meeting in Istanbul, and a second round is being prepared," Lavrov said, noting that the sides are "in contact by phone and video conference."

Lavrov said he did not want to make predictions, but cited "some progress and a willingness on the part of our American partners to lift these completely unacceptable obstacles to the normal work of diplomats in both capitals."

Russia and the US have imposed various restrictions on each other in recent years, including limiting the number of diplomatic personnel, constraining banking access, and seizing diplomatic properties.

A major flashpoint came in late 2016, when the administration of then-President Barack Obama restricted Russian diplomats' access to residences in New York and Maryland and later seized additional Russian properties.

Relations deteriorated further under former President Joe Biden, with heightened tensions over the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, prompting further diplomatic and economic restrictions. These included the suspension of flights and closure of US airspace to Russian carriers in coordination with Washington's Western allies.

Lavrov insisted that Moscow was not the one that initiated such measures, saying Russia responded "according to the principle of reciprocity, which no one has abolished" in diplomacy.

US President Donald Trump has moved away from many Biden-era policies, calling for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict and a reset in bilateral ties.

The two countries have held several rounds of high-level talks since Trump took office in January. A meeting in Riyadh on February 18 focused on restoring embassy operations and easing restrictions. The follow-up round in Istanbul on February 27, addressed diplomatic funding and Russia's proposal to reinstate direct flights between the two countries.

Last week, expert delegations from both sides met again in Saudi Arabia, where, after 12 hours of negotiations, they agreed to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Following the talks, Trump signaled Washington could consider lifting certain sanctions to advance the deal, which is seen as a step toward resolving the Ukraine conflict.

(RT.com)