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US-Russia communication channels open at defense ministers, general staff chiefs level

Despite suspension of cooperation with Russia in the military field the channels through which the US Department of Defense could get in touch with Russian counterparts are still available
Pentagon AP Photo
Pentagon
© AP Photo

WASHINGTON, November 5. /TASS/. The United States has suspended cooperation with Russia in the military field, but leaves communication channels open at the level of the defense ministers and the chiefs of general staffs, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Evellyn Farkas told on Wednesday a group of reporters covering military issues. She stepped down last week, which made it possible for her, on the one hand, to keep abreast of the developments at the Pentagon, and, on the other — to carry on a dialogue with the media more freely and openly.

Answering a question from a TASS correspondent, she said that there were the channels through which the US Department of Defense could get in touch and communicate with Russian counterparts. The communication channel remains open at the highest level, Farkas said. According to her, if necessary, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford may get in touch with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov "any time."