Consultations are underway in Istanbul, Turkey at the level of foreign policy experts between the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the US Department of State, Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters Thursday.

“We are currently holding consultations in Istanbul on the resumption of contacts between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department at the level of foreign policy experts, the work of embassies, etc.,” Zakharova said.

Negotiations are underway between the Russian and US delegations at the residence of the US Consul General in Istanbul, in which the two parties are discussing the matters of the work of their embassies.

As noted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, “high-level diplomats and experts” are participating.

The meeting is being held behind closed doors.

Reporters from various countries continue to wait outside the aforesaid residence for the end of these talks.