Meeting of Russian, US diplomats to take place in Istanbul on Thursday: Russia's foreign minister

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that a meeting between Russian and US representatives to discuss embassy operations will take place on Thursday in Istanbul.

"We announced that our diplomats and high-level experts would meet and consider the systemic problems that had accumulated as a result of the illegal activities of the previous (US) administration to create artificial obstacles to the activities of the Russian Embassy, to which we naturally reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American Embassy in Moscow," the minister said speaking at a press briefing in Doha, Qatar.

Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian settlement, Lavrov said Moscow is deeply concerned that the Israeli army continues to take actions that go beyond the ceasefire agreement, creating tensions on the ground.

According to Lavrov, Russia and Qatar support progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, while viewing the resettlement of Palestinians in the region, rather than statehood, as a "time bomb."

He also ruled out the possibility of European troop deployment in Ukraine, stating that French President Emmanuel Macron misinterpreted US President Donald Trump’s remarks -- Trump had suggested such a move could be possible with the agreement of all parties yet Russia’s consent was never sought.