Senior U.S., Russian defense officials talk to defuse tensions over Syria
- 9 years ago
Defense chiefs from the United States and Russia held their first direct talks in more than a year Friday, discussing the multiple conflicts in Syria and ways to battle the Islamic State as part of possible wider contacts aimed at easing tensions.
The talks between Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, announced by the Pentagon, follow weeks of growing concern in Washington over Moscow's military role with Syria's government.
In London, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Friday he hoped to open talks soon between Russian and U.S. military officials on confronting the Islamic State and ways to resolve more than four years of conflict in Syria.
Shortly after Kerry's comments, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Moscow was open to discussions with Washington "on all matters of mutual interest, including Syria," the Reuters news agency reported.
The talks between Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, announced by the Pentagon, follow weeks of growing concern in Washington over Moscow's military role with Syria's government.
In London, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Friday he hoped to open talks soon between Russian and U.S. military officials on confronting the Islamic State and ways to resolve more than four years of conflict in Syria.
Shortly after Kerry's comments, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Moscow was open to discussions with Washington "on all matters of mutual interest, including Syria," the Reuters news agency reported.