UPDATE 2 - Meeting of Russian, US diplomats to take place in Istanbul on Thursday: Russia's foreign minister

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON UKRAINIAN SETTLEMENT

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.

Lavrov expressed hope that after the meeting in Istanbul, "it will be clear to what extent the parties can move quickly and effectively."

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.

"We are very concerned that every day the Israeli army is taking additional steps that are not provided for by agreements with Hamas and Lebanon, and which, in general, create facts on the ground that contradict agreements and contradict UN Security Council resolutions on both Palestinian affairs and the Lebanese problem," he said.

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."

"The issue of establishing a Palestinian State is a key one," he stressed.

According to him, a highly productive dialogue is underway between Russia and the Arab League, with experts holding daily discussions on all issues requiring coordination, including the future of Palestine.

The Russian side, he continued, also places great hopes on the upcoming Arab League summit in Cairo, where “the future of the Gaza Strip will be discussed in the context of various proposals, including the idea of transforming it into a tourist zone.”

"The Arab nations seek to safeguard the Palestinians’ right to live on their land. This has yet to be realized. We will leverage our influence on the international stage, including within the UN, to ensure these processes move forward constructively," he said.

A joint meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on March 14 in Istanbul will examine these issues on a broader scale, addressing Israel-Palestine, Israel-Lebanon, and Israel-Syria relations, Lavrov noted.

"Just as Israeli forces have chosen to remain in southern Lebanon, they have now moved further south in the Syrian Arab Republic. This has created a new reality that necessitates the development of constructive measures balancing security and development interests for all countries in the region, without exception," he said.

Russia is committed to ensuring that developments in Syria do not lead to civil strife, as such risks still persist, he stated. The minister also condemned Europe’s stance, which links the lifting of sanctions from Syria to the condition of “expelling Russia” from the country.

Russia-Ukraine settlement

Turning to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Lavrov stated that Russia is waiting for European leaders to stop "lying about Moscow blocking negotiations."

He argued that Europe continues to pursue a "hopelessly outdated and failed" policy on Ukraine, actively inciting Kyiv to prolong the conflict.

"Whenever the balance of political forces in Ukraine begins to shift, as was evident during the recent United Nations vote, Europe immediately tries to counteract this trend—announcing large new military aid packages for Kyiv and encouraging it to continue fighting," he said.

"The Ukrainian regime has sought to erase Russian identity through legislation affecting education, the media, and culture. What remains of Ukraine must be freed from these discriminatory laws," he added.

Lavrov 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.

"The approach being pushed primarily by France, as well as the British, is aimed at escalating the conflict rather than de-escalating it. Tricks like deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine will not succeed. The key to resolving the conflict lies in addressing its underlying causes," he said.