As the first step in discussions on the Ukraine war, the United States and Russia have agreed to resume normal diplomatic operations at each other’s embassies.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this decision on Tuesday (February 18) following high-level talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters.
This move is expected to lead to the easing of restrictions imposed on Russia’s diplomatic mission in the U.S., which were enforced by the previous U.S. administration in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and other Russian actions.
Talks in Riyadh to End the Ukraine War
U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh as part of efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump instructed senior officials to initiate discussions on this matter after assuming office.
Rubio stated, "Both sides have agreed to swiftly deploy a team of officials to restart the operations of our respective diplomatic missions."
A Decade of Diplomatic Retaliation
Over the past decade, tit-for-tat measures between the U.S. and Russia have led to the expulsion of diplomats and restrictions on hiring new staff, severely reducing the workforce at their embassies.
Rubio noted that due to these reductions, it has become challenging for the U.S. to maintain its operations in Moscow, just as Russia has faced similar difficulties in Washington.
However, Rubio declined to disclose specific details about how both diplomatic missions would resume operations. When asked about the current status of the U.S. mission in Russia, the State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
