For the first time after the decision was made to freeze relations, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, and the Chairman of NATO Military Committee, Peter Pavel held a phone conversation.
This is the first high-level contacts in the military sphere since NATO’s decision to freeze relations with Russia. The sides discussed the issues of security, the prospects for recovery of interaction in the military sphere, the prevention of incidents, and the participation of representatives of the alliance in international events.
The Chief of Staff drew attention to concerns of the Russian side, a significant intensification of the military activity of the Alliance near the country’s borders, as well as the forward-based system deployment of NATO forces.
In addition, General Pavel Gerasimov informed NATO on key international events the Russian Defense Ministry will organize in 2017. The sides confirmed the need for reciprocal steps to reduce tension and stabilize the situation in Europe. Gerasimov and Pavel agreed to continue such contacts.
