UK's Streeting says Britain wants more direct communication channels with Russia

Britain would prefer to have additional channels of communication with Russia, particularly at a military-to-military level to reduce the risk of miscalculation, defence minister Wes Streeting said, according to a Financial Times interview published on Tuesday.

"We have our embassy in Moscow. That is an important channel ... I would much prefer there to be additional channels too, particularly military-to-military level," Streeting told the FT.

"There is always a risk of miscalculation and that's why having that direct communication is important," he said.

Streeting's comments come as Russian and Ukrainian officials planned to meet on Tuesday for two days of US-brokered talks — their first since February — after President Donald Trump suggested last week that a broad peace deal was possible in their 4-1/2-year-old war, which could incorporate Europe's security.

Relations between Moscow and most European capitals, including London, have been frozen since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in February 2022.

However, the foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September in the first such talks since then.

TRT World / Reuters — TRT World / Reuters

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