Russian and U.S. diplomats will meet in Istanbul on Thursday for talks aimed at restoring their respective diplomatic missions, seen as a step towards ending the war in Ukraine, both sides said on Wednesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that delegations from Russia and the US will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss restoring the functioning of their embassies.

Russian and U.S. diplomats have held talks in Istanbul to discuss ways to normalize the operation of their respective embassies after rounds of diplomatic expulsions in recent years.

Turkey said on Monday it was ready to host possible talks between Ukraine and Russia and would support any initiative leading to peace, following a visit to Ankara by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russia peace talks, the top Russian diplomat paid a visit to Turkey less than a week after the Ukrainian president's trip to Ankara.

As officials in Washington, D.C., and Moscow prepare to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is critical of negotiations that exclude his nation.

Diplomats from Russia and the United States will meet on February 27 in Istanbul to discuss disputes over their respective diplomatic missions as the two sides continue a bilateral dialogue seen as crucial to ending the Ukraine war.

By Jonathan Spicer and Mark Trevelyan ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Russian and U.S. teams held six hours of talks in Turkey on Thursday to try to restore normal functioning of their embassies, and Vladimir Putin said initial contacts with Donald Trump's new administration had inspired hope.

Russian and U.S. diplomats met in Turkey on Thursday for talks to resolve disputes over the work of their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, a first test of their ability to reset wider relations and work towards ending the war in Ukraine.