The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed optimism that expert consultations with the United States in Istanbul will help rebuild trust and ease tensions between the two countries.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, speaking at a briefing, emphasized that Moscow views the meeting as the first in a series of engagements aimed at resolving longstanding disputes and enhancing confidence-building measures.

"We hope that today’s meeting will become the first in a series of such expert consultations which will bring us and the US side closer to overcoming the disagreements that emerged, the strengthening of confidence-building measures, and so on," Zakharova stated.

She noted that discussions would focus on addressing key issues in bilateral relations, particularly those stemming from the actions of the previous US administration. One of the main points on the agenda includes the resumption of embassy operations, a subject of ongoing diplomatic contention.

The meeting in Istanbul is seen as an important step toward re-establishing dialogue between the two global powers, with both sides aiming to find common ground on critical diplomatic matters. (ILKHA)