Russia-US Talks in Istanbul Offer Hope for Diplomatic Reset, Says Putin

Russian and U.S. officials convened in Istanbul for six hours of discussions aimed at restoring normal embassy operations, marking a potential thaw in relations under President Donald Trump’s new administration. President Vladimir Putin expressed cautious optimism, stating that initial contacts with the U.S. “inspire certain hopes” for rebuilding intergovernmental ties and addressing global security issues. The talks focused on resolving diplomatic irritants and are expected to be the first in a series of confidence-building measures. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the complexity of the issues but highlighted the mutual political will to engage in constructive dialogue.