WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States and Russia maintain routine military-to-military dialogue, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby stated on Friday.
"Obviously we have routine military-to military exchanges and dialogue with Russia, as just a matter of course," Kirby told journalists. "There is a healthy, but not always in concert, but there is a healthy dialogue between our two countries, and that’s what you would expect."
Kirby noted there are many vehicles through which the United States communicates with Russian leaders.
"One of them is direct communication between [US] Secretary [of State John] Kerry and [Russia's] Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov," Kirby noted.
Additionally, the US embassy in Russia "routinely talks with Russian leaders and officials about all manner of issues, particularly those that are of concern to us. So we have many vehicles," he added.
In recent days, Russia has confirmed it is assisting the Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, in an effort to combat ISIL. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on Friday that Russia would continue the delivery of defense equipment intended to be used in counter-terrorism efforts.
"No prior notice was given to us with respect to these additional activities that Russia has taken," Kirby said. "There is no military-to-military communication with Russian forces or troops in Syria as they conduct counter-ISIL operations in Syria."
Since the beginning of the Syria civil war, the United States and some of its allies have supported the moderate Syrian opposition while calling for Assad's resignation, while Russia recognized Assad as the legitimate Syrian authority.
Russia's relations with the West deteriorated significantly in 2014 over the Ukraine crisis. The United States and the European Union along with some of their allies accused Russia of interfering in Ukraine's internal affairs. Consequently, they imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations and expressed readiness to resume dialogue with Western partners, but on terms of mutual respect and cooperation.
The United States and Russia continue to cooperate in some areas, including in counter-terrorism, in the resolution of the Syrian crisis, in space as well as the arts, among other areas.
