U.S. and Russia to Resume High-Stakes Military Talks Amidst Ongoing Ukraine Crisis

The U.S. and Russia have agreed to reestablish high-level military-to-military communication that had been suspended prior to the fall of 2021, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This agreement was reached while Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command, participated in trilateral talks between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine aimed at ending a nearly four-year-long conflict.

Maintaining dialogue between militaries is crucial for global stability and peace, fostering increased transparency and de-escalation efforts. This resumption coincided with the expiration of the last remaining treaty governing nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Russia, the world’s largest nuclear powers.

The two-day talks in trilateral format included participants from Ukraine and were brokered by the United States. They featured representatives such as U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and Grynkewich. During these negotiations, the first prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia in five months took place.

In a statement on Thursday, Witkoff announced this significant development. He noted that “while significant work remains,” such exchanges demonstrate tangible progress towards ending the war in Ukraine, which will mark its fourth year on February 24th. Since his second term began, President Trump has been pushing for an end to the conflict.

Despite ongoing negotiations, obstacles persist over occupied Ukrainian territory Russia wants to retain as part of any peace agreement. The death toll continues to rise; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimates that approximately 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have perished in fighting so far. Meanwhile, the Center for Strategic and International Studies reports an estimated 325,000 Russian forces killed since 2022.