US and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on February 27 and held six-hour talks.

The stated goal of these discussions is to restore embassy operations. Over years of confrontation, the US and Russia have limited staffing at each other’s embassies and closed several consulates and other diplomatic facilities. The US State Department reported that political or security issues, as well as the war in Ukraine, will not be on the agenda for these talks.

The US delegation is led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, while the Russian delegation is headed by Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev. As Reuters notes, although the scope of the talks is narrow, they will serve as a test of both sides’ serious intentions to restore relations and seek an end to the war. In particular, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed out, the US intends to determine whether Russia is genuinely interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine.

Rubio further stated that the US plans to send diplomats to negotiate with Russia to end the war. If Russian demands are unrealistic, it will indicate their unwillingness to pursue peace.