New round of Russian-U.S. consultations in Istanbul concluded - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. April 10 (Interfax) - A Russian and a U.S. delegation have concluded negotiations in Istanbul, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Another round of consultations in Istanbul has been concluded," Zakharova told journalists on Thursday.

The second round of Russian-U.S. consultations was started on Thursday morning. The Russian delegation was led by Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiyev.

Zakharova had said previously that the negotiators "will continue the substantive work that is currently underway to eliminate numerous technical obstacles hindering routine activities of diplomats from both countries".

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the consultations would "address exclusively the settlement and normalization of bilateral relations".

"Ukrainian settlement is not being discussed at these negotiations," Peskov told journalists.

Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said Ukraine was "not on the agenda" of the meeting, nor did the delegations plan to address political and security matters.

The first round of Russian-U.S. talks in the same format took place in Istanbul at the end of February. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website that the consultations passed in a substantive manner and the parties agreed to continue their dialogue via said channel.

"In accordance with the instructions from the foreign policy leadership of both countries, the parties meticulously explored avenues to overcome numerous irritants inherited from previous US administrations," the ministry said.

"Joint measures were agreed upon to ensure the unfettered mutual financing of Russian and U.S. diplomatic missions' operations and to establish appropriate conditions for diplomats to fulfil their official duties," it said.

The first round of the consultations "also addressed issues related to Russian diplomatic properties in the United States, with a particular focus on the restitution of six premises unlawfully seized between 2016 and 2018," it said.

"The American side was encouraged to consider the restoration of direct air service between the two countries," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.