In a notable moment of communication amidst escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, the chief military officer of Russia reached out to his American counterpart to provide forewarning about upcoming military exercises in the Mediterranean. This exchange took place on November 27 when General Valery Gerasimov of Russia’s General Staff contacted General CQ Brown, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, as confirmed by officials on Thursday.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the call was meant to inform of a scheduled naval drill involving missile launches in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, aimed at averting any potential incidents, particularly given the presence of U.S. and NATO vessels in the vicinity of the planned exercises. The ministry detailed that these three-day naval drills concluded on Tuesday and involved extensive practice launches conducted by two frigates using advanced hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles, along with a submarine deploying Kalibr cruise missiles. Further testing featured the firing of an Onyx missile from a land-based launcher targeting a mock maritime target.
General Brown and General Gerasimov also discussed a range of overarching global and regional security matters, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, marking their first conversation since Brown assumed office in October 2023. During their dialogue, Gerasimov informed his U.S. counterpart about the live-fire exercises but did not disclose the specific weaponry that would be involved.
On another front, Andriy Yermak, who serves as chief of staff for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, engaged in discussions with senior officials from the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, in a bid to secure essential support for Ukraine. Yermak’s visit to the U.S. on Wednesday included meetings with Republican Representative Mike Waltz, who has been selected by Trump to assume the national security adviser role, and Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general assigned by Trump as an envoy for Ukraine. Information concerning these meetings was provided by a source familiar with the discussions, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Details regarding the outcomes of these sessions have not been immediately shared. This meeting is among several that Trump’s team is conducting with international representatives prior to his inauguration set for January 20, 2025. The President-elect, who has expressed a long-standing admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has called for an expedited resolution to the conflict that has persisted for nearly three years, where Russia is pitted against Ukraine’s government that is aligned with the West. Specific plans regarding his approach to the situation have yet to be revealed.
Supporters of Ukraine and their government are hopeful that continued military and diplomatic backing from the U.S. will play a crucial role in helping them attain favorable terms in any prospective ceasefire negotiations.
