diplomacy
USA and Russia want to resume military dialogue
Updated February 5, 2026 – 3:02 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Dialogue between the military of Washington and Moscow has been interrupted since autumn 2021. Now there is a surprising twist.
The USA and Russia have agreed to resume their high-level military dialogue, which has been interrupted since 2021. This was announced by the command of the US armed forces in Europe after negotiations between Russians and Americans in Abu Dhabi.
The talks were put on hold in autumn 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 about the agreement to resume military dialogue.
According to the statement, Russia and the USA agreed to resume dialogue during negotiations to end 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 US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also took part in the talks about ending the war in Ukraine. The warring parties Russia and Ukraine are negotiating under US mediation.
“This channel will ensure continued contact between the armed forces as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace,” the statement added.
According to the US, General Grynkevich, as commander in chief of NATO forces in Europe, also has the authority to maintain military dialogue with Russia’s chief of staff Valery Gerasimov “to avoid misjudgments and to provide a means to avoid inadvertent escalation on both sides.”
During the Russian war of aggression that began in 2022, there were only occasional contacts at the highest military level between Moscow and Washington. There were phone calls between the defense ministers and chiefs of general 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 the phone several times; In August 2025, both presidents met in Alaska. Trump has repeatedly declared that he would end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Even after the new negotiations in Abu Dhabi, a ceasefire is not in sight.
