Britain May Resume Direct Military Contacts with Russia Due to the Risk of Escalation

British military leaders may attempt to reestablish a direct line of communication with the Russian military command out of concern that new incidents between the two countries’ militaries could lead to a broader escalation.

According to the publication, British Chief of the General Staff Richard Nighton attempted to establish contact with Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov after taking office in September 2025. 

However, the Russian general did not answer the call.

The last known conversation between British and Russian military leaders took place in September 2022. At that time, Admiral Tony Radakin spoke with Gerasimov following an incident over the Black Sea, during which a Russian pilot attempted to shoot down a British reconnaissance aircraft.

John Forman, a former British military attaché in Moscow and Kyiv, called on Defense Minister Wes Streeting and Richard Knighton to resume high-level contacts with the Russian command.

“Without a direct line of communication, there is a risk of unintended escalation. A serious misunderstanding could ultimately lead to loss of life,” Forman said.

According to him, the need for such dialogue has become even more urgent following a series of dangerous incidents involving British and Russian military personnel.

In particular, in June, a Russian warship fired warning shots near a British yacht in the English Channel. And last month, according to the British side, a Russian aircraft made a dangerous approach to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea.

The British government stated that the British Embassy in Moscow continues to convey clear messages to the Russian authorities and is working to reduce the risk of escalation.

At the same time, officials in London note that Russia refuses to engage in direct dialogue between military leaders.

“As a responsible military power, we have long advocated for high-level military dialogue with Russia and regret that Russia is unwilling to participate in it,” said a British government spokesperson.

Thus, the restoration of a direct channel between the British and Russian militaries is viewed primarily as a mechanism to prevent accidental escalation amid a growing number of dangerous incidents.

This was reported by The Times.

Earlier, China stated that new U.S. sanctions against Russia could ultimately harm Washington itself. Beijing believes that the policy of exerting pressure on other countries will not yield the expected results, and its consequences may backfire on those applying the pressure.

Earlier, Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. Senate for approving harsh sanctions against Russia.

The U.S. Senate has backed a sweeping bill imposing new sanctions against Russia and Iran. The bill passed with 68 votes in favor and nine against, and will now be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.