Even small conversations between opposing powers can carry significant weight in times of conflict.
The war in Ukraine, now over 1,010 days long, continues to reshape global dynamics. As tensions grow, a surprising development occurred: Russia’s top military officer reached out to his American counterpart.
On November 27, 2024, General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff, initiated a call to General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to Ziare.
It was the first such interaction between the two leaders. The Russian side later revealed that Gerasimov had warned about ongoing military drills in the Mediterranean.
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These exercises, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, included the launch of Zirkon hypersonic missiles and Kalibr cruise missiles.
Russian frigates, including the Admiral Gorshkov, and the submarine Novorossiysk participated, along with MiG-31 fighter jets armed with Kinzhal missiles. Over 1,000 personnel, 10 ships, and 24 aircraft were involved.
While Gerasimov didn’t explicitly discuss the missile launches during the call, the drills demonstrated Russia’s growing military capabilities.
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the call but provided few details, describing it as a discussion of "global and regional security issues." Both sides agreed not to release a formal summary of the conversation.
The timing of this dialogue is significant. U.S. officials have raised concerns about Russia’s increasing use of advanced weapons, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
The conversation also touched on the presence of North Korean troops on the battlefield and Ukraine’s use of long-range ATACMS missiles against Russian targets.
