Russia and the United States have agreed to resume high-level military talks amid ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) announced on Thursday. The decision to restart the dialogue follows meetings between the top U.S. and NATO commander in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, and a Russian delegation led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence.
The announcement arrives as the New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement limiting U.S. and Russian strategic arsenals, formally expired on February 5. EUCOM stated that the revived military channel will provide “consistent military-to-military contact” as both sides continue working toward a lasting resolution in Ukraine. “Maintaining dialogue between militaries is an important factor in global stability and peace,” the command’s release said, noting it fosters “increased transparency and de-escalation.”
High-level military communication between the two nations had been frozen since late 2021. The current diplomatic engagement in the United Arab Emirates occurs alongside broader discussions on European security, which have intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. That escalation followed the collapse of security talks in early 2022, when the U.S. and NATO rejected Moscow’s demands for legally binding guarantees limiting NATO’s eastward expansion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for a new, inclusive security architecture for Europe.
Regarding nuclear arms control, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia remains ready for “constructive” talks with the United States. The New START treaty, which capped deployed strategic nuclear warheads and launchers, lapsed without immediate extension after years of strained relations. While Moscow had proposed extending certain provisions, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the offer went unanswered.
However, according to Axios, citing sources familiar with the Abu Dhabi talks, U.S. and Russian negotiators have all but finalized an informal, six-month continuation of New START’s core numerical limits on nuclear arms. This provisional agreement is still pending final approval from both the White House and the Kremlin.
The simultaneous restart of military dialogue and the potential interim nuclear arms accord signal a modest, pragmatic shift amid broader geopolitical tensions. Both developments, if consolidated, could reduce immediate risks of military miscalculation. The formal renewal of New START’s verification and limit framework, however, remains subject to high-level political endorsement, with its future longevity uncertain.
