Dec 18, 2019

The top US and Russian military chiefs met Wednesday in Switzerland for talks on Syria, where both countries are militarily engaged and maintain regular contact to avoid accidental confrontations.

General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, met in Bern, a spokeswoman for Milley said.

They discussed "Syria, strategic stability and a variety of other operational and strategic issues to enhance deconfliction, improve understanding and reduce risk," Colonel DeDe Halfhill said.

"Both leaders recognize the importance of maintaining regular communication to avoid miscalculation and to promote transparency," she said.

The Russian defense ministry issued a virtually identical statement, adding: "The meeting was constructive."