Russia's top military officer contacted his U.S. counterpart to provide advance notice of Russian naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. General Valery Gerasimov informed General CQ Brown about the planned drills, which included missile launches in the eastern Mediterranean. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that this communication was intended to prevent any potential incidents due to the presence of U.S. and NATO warships near the exercise area.
The recent three-day Russian navy drills involved the testing of new hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles by two frigates, as well as the firing of Kalibr cruise missiles from a submarine. Additionally, an Onyx missile was launched from a ground launcher at a practice sea target as part of the exercises.
During their conversation, General Brown and General Gerasimov discussed various global and regional security issues, including the conflict in Ukraine. This marked their first call since General Brown assumed the role of chairman in October 2023. While Gerasimov informed Brown about the live-fire exercise, specific details regarding the weapons systems used were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, a representative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with key officials from the incoming Trump administration to secure crucial support for Ukraine. The discussions aimed to ensure continued U.S. military and diplomatic backing for Ukraine, particularly in potential ceasefire negotiations. The meetings are part of a series of engagements between Trump aides and foreign representatives ahead of Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025.
President-elect Donald Trump, known for his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has expressed a desire to swiftly end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine's Western-aligned government. However, specific details of his plans in this regard remain limited, leaving Ukrainians and their supporters hopeful for sustained U.S. support to achieve favorable outcomes in future negotiations.
