U.S., Russia revive high-level military communications after suspension in 2021

The U.S. and Russia have reestablished a high-level military-to-military dialogue that had been suspended since 2021, the Pentagon said Thursday.

In a statement, the Defense Department said the revival is the result of talks that special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in recent days.

The channel lets top U.S. military officials communicate quickly with their Russian counterparts. Each side can share information about looming military movements that could affect either nation and can relay other information meant to help the countries avoid miscalculations and misunderstandings.

The channel was suspended in late 2021, just months before Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Maintaining dialogue between militaries is an important factor in global stability and peace, which can only be achieved through strength, and provides a means for increased transparency and de-escalation,” the Pentagon said in its statement. “This channel will provide a consistent military-to-military contact as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace.”

The Pentagon said Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO, met with top Russian military officials during those recent Abu Dhabi talks.

The revived U.S.-Russia channel will allow Gen. Grynkewich, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine and other American commanders to communicate regularly with the general staff of Gen. Valery Gerasimov and other Russian military leaders.

The U.S. also has a high-level military communications channel with China. The Asian country suspended those communications in 2022 to protest a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island democracy of Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be part of communist China.

The U.S.-China channel was reestablished in 2023.