Politics USA and Russia want to resume military dialog
The USA and Russia have agreed to resume their high-level military dialog, which has been interrupted since 2021. This was announced by the US Armed Forces Command in Europe following negotiations between the Russians and Americans in Abu Dhabi.
05.02.2026, 15:07
SDA
The talks had been put on hold in the fall of 2021 due to massive tensions between Washington and Moscow. The USA sees the resumption of talks between the armed forces as an "important factor for global stability and peace" and promises "the opportunity for greater transparency and de-escalation". There was initially no official information from Russia on the agreement to resume the military dialog.
According to the statement, Russia and the USA agreed to resume the dialog during negotiations on ending Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine. Accordingly, General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Commander of the US European Command, met with high-ranking Russian and Ukrainian military officials in the United Arab Emirates.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, also took part in the talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The warring parties Russia and Ukraine are negotiating under US mediation.
Continuous contact planned
"This channel will ensure continuous contact between the armed forces as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace," the statement continued.
According to the US, General Grynkewich, as Commander-in-Chief of NATO forces in Europe, also has the authority to maintain military dialog with Russia's Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov "to avoid miscalculation and provide a means to avoid unintended escalation on either side".
During the Russian war of aggression, which began in 2022, there had only been occasional contacts at the highest military level between Moscow and Washington. There were phone calls between the defense ministers and chiefs of staff.
US President Donald Trump had restarted contacts between Washington and Moscow at various levels. He has also spoken to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on several occasions; the two presidents met in Alaska in August 2025. Trump has repeatedly declared his intention to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. However, even after the new negotiations in Abu Dhabi, a ceasefire is not in sight.
