UK defence minister wants more direct military channels with Russia to reduce risk of miscalculation

In brief

• Britain's defence minister Wes Streeting wants more direct channels with Russia, especially between military departments, to reduce the risk of miscalculation.
• The comments came as Russian and Ukrainian officials held US-mediated talks in the United Arab Emirates.
• Relations between Moscow and most European capitals have been frozen since February 2022, and European states are debating how to handle Russia.

Calls for direct military lines

Britain's Defence Minister Wes Streeting has said London would like more direct communication lines with Russia, including at the level of defence ministries, to reduce the risk of miscalculation (Міністр оборони Британії хоче мати більше прямої комунікації з Росією – Українська правда) (Міністр оборони Британії прагне мати більше прямих каналів комунікації з Росією – Європейська правда). In an interview with the Financial Times, he said the British embassy in Moscow is an important channel, but he would prefer additional ones, particularly between military departments.

Streeting argued that there is always a risk of miscalculation between states in confrontation, which is why a direct line of contact matters. His comments came on the same day that Russian and Ukrainian officials gathered in the United Arab Emirates for two days of negotiations under US mediation.

Frozen relations

Relations between Moscow and most European capitals, including London, have been frozen since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Debate over Europe's approach

The remarks come amid a debate over how Europe should deal with Moscow. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has argued that Europe should focus on increasing sanctions pressure on Russia rather than on attempts to negotiate with the Kremlin. On 27 October, Finland's president and Norway's prime minister held a phone call with Vladimir Putin on their own initiative. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has warned allies against talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war that ignore Eastern European security interests.