Russia praises 'substantive' talks with US in Istanbul

MOSCOW - The Russian Foreign Ministry praised the latest round of talks with the United States in a statement on Friday, calling them "substantive and businesslike."

Russian and US teams held six hours of talks in Turkey on Thursday to try to restore the normal functioning of their embassies, and President Vladimir Putin said initial contacts with Donald Trump's new administration had inspired hope.

The Foreign Ministry said the delegations had discussed issues related to what it said was the illegal confiscation of Russia's diplomatic property in the US and had asked the Americans to consider restoring direct air links.

It said both sides had agreed on steps to restore the uninterrupted financing and normal operations of their respective embassies.