OMAHA (Sputnik) — The US Joint Chief of Staff, Hyten added, is currently developing communication lines with Russian counterparts that focused primarily around Syria, which would unlikely change in the near future.
"I believe that having open communication between the United States, Russia, China is a good thing from a military prospective," Hyten said. "I will continue to advocate for that."
"I don't have anything to announce on that," Davis told reporters when asked about potential contacts between Mattis and Shoigu.
Davis explained the Defense Department is under legal restrictions with respect to cooperation with Russia, but noted that the two counties have established many contacts at different levels. Mattis and Shoigu have so far not had a direct contact.
Last week, Department of Defense spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters the United States continues to maintain its end of the deconfliction line with Russia for operations in Syria and would want to continue the exchange of information.
The United States unilaterally cut off military all but the highest level diplomatic and military contacts with Russia in 2014, following Western accusations that Russia had interfered in the internal affairs of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied the accusations and called for reopening military to military contacts in particular.
