Photo via The Straits Times

Russia says military-to-military contacts with Britain are possible if London reaches out

Read the original at The Straits Times ↗
Cite

The Straits Times. (2026, November 11). Russia says military-to-military contacts with Britain are possible if London reaches out. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-says-military-to-military-contacts-with-britain-are-possible-if-london-reaches-out

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

The Straits Times · collected 2026-11-11 · by The Straits Times

Quick Summary

Russia’s Defence Ministry indicated that it would be open to military-to-military contacts with Britain if the latter initiates communication. This came after British Defence Minister Wes Streeting expressed interest in having additional channels of dialogue to reduce potential misunderstandings. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova suggested that Britain should contact the Russian Ministry of Defence directly, while blaming Britain for shutting down existing communication lines by expelling a Russian military official. Relations between the two countries remain strained due to Britain's support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Written by AI on 2026-11-11, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Russia’s Defence Ministry is willing to engage in military-to-military contacts with Britain if London reaches out first, according to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry. This comment follows remarks by British Defence Minister Wes Streeting, who expressed interest in additional communication channels to reduce the risk of miscalculation during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Relations between the two countries are currently strained due to Britain’s strong support for Ukraine and its opposition to Russia’s actions. Despite the tension, Zakharova recommended that Britain's Defence Secretary initiate dialogue with Moscow by contacting the Russian Ministry of Defence directly.

Written for “Russia Open To Military Contacts With Britain” on 2026-11-11, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

Russia Open To Military Contacts With Britain
Politics · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
UK seeks military hotline with Russia amid fears accidental clash could spark war Different event
Times of India
Leans left Hedges 2 of 42 claims Outlet record 59/100
“The articles describe related statements but refer to different dates and contexts for UK's Defence Minister Wes Streeting's comments about military communication with Russia.”
Streeting wants more direct contact with Russia to avoid war 'miscalculation' Different event
The Independent
Hedges 2 of 16 claims Outlet record 59/100
“The articles discuss related topics but describe different remarks made on separate days.”
Streeting warns Putin could trigger world war by mistake as he calls for military-level communications with Russia to help avoid 'miscalculation' Different event
Daily Mail
Hedges 2 of 21 claims Outlet record 69/100
“While both articles discuss the possibility of military-level communication between Russia and Britain, they describe different stages or reactions to the idea rather than a single specific occurrence.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
9
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
66/100
The Straits Times's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-11-11 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Straits Times · 4916 article(s) · 5 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 5 correction(s)
2026-10-30
Number of residents leaving Oleshky still unclear, Kyiv says
2026-10-21
X Community Notes ‘failed’ to flag US election falsehoods, study says
2026-10-04
Tennessee prison chief resigns after failed execution
2026-10-03
US prison chief resigns after failed execution of death row inmate Christa Pike
2026-09-13
Russia hits Ukrainian-Polish border area, Kyiv says

Who wrote this

The Straits Times
3316 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
“I would like to clean up and put an end to that,” she said, before a Cabinet meeting, unveiling a Bill that will be submitted to Parliament after a review of several weeks.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · Austria toughening espionage law to address Vienna’s ‘den of spies’ image
The three sources did not provide a damage assessment and Reuters could not determine independently if any navigation systems were destroyed in the attacks that Tehran had claimed on Tuesday.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · Iran attacks shipping navigation systems on Oman's Didamar island, sources say
Around 850,000 domestic travelers are expected to see the pope on his six-day visit to Peru, which will include stops in Lima, Cusco, Pucallpa and Chiclayo, a city where Leo previously served as bishop.
2026-11-11 · mixed framing · Pope-mania boosts Peru tourist industry as pilgrims fill hotels and shop for souvenirs
“If American aircraft take off from an American military base, even one located in a European country or some other distant region, to bomb Iran, we will strike those bases as well,” Rezaei told Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV, in an interview broadcast on Nov 11.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · Iran security chief threatens to strike US bases in Europe if used for attacks
EU foreign ministers are expected to adopt the listings at a meeting on Nov 16 before they become law in the EU’s Official Journal.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · EU envoys agree new Russia sanctions listings on banks, shadow fleet and misinformation
Medinsky was also cited as saying that if what he called a fair security system for Europe could be created, it would help ensure peace on the continent for decades, and possibly centuries, to come.
2026-11-11 · mixed framing · Russia's negotiator on Ukraine rejects option of territorial swaps with Kyiv, TASS reports
Russia's Defence Ministry would be willing to speak with its British counterpart if London reached out, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · Russia says military-to-military contacts with Britain are possible if London reaches out
The conduct ranged from verbal harassment to visual abuse, such as unwilling exposure to pornography, unwanted touching or – in 2% of cases – sexual violence.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · German military promises action after report shows widespread sexual abuse
European energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said the approach could help build a consensus for action that could even include climate sceptics.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · COP31 leaders try out new sales pitch for climate action: Do it for the economy
It was expected to reach most of southern Portugal and the Lisbon region through late afternoon.
2026-11-11 · assertive framing · Portugal cancels 200-plus flights, shuts schools as Storm Charles hits
Also by The Straits Times
Austria toughening espionage law to address Vienna’s ‘den of spies’ image
2026-11-11 · The Straits Times
Iran attacks shipping navigation systems on Oman's Didamar island, sources say
2026-11-11 · The Straits Times
Pope-mania boosts Peru tourist industry as pilgrims fill hotels and shop for souvenirs
2026-11-11 · The Straits Times
Russia’s ambassador to the US dies ‘suddenly’ aged 66
2026-11-11 · The Straits Times
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 3316 articles by The Straits Times →

Topics

Britain British London MOSCOW Russia

Subjects

Britain GPE · 5× London GPE · 5× Russia GPE · 5× MOSCOW GPE · 4× British NORP · 3× Zakharova PERSON · 3× Ukraine GPE · 2× Defence Ministry ORG · 1× Maria Zakharova PERSON · 1× the Russian Foreign Ministry ORG · 1×

Narrative

Zakharova was commenting on remarks by British Defence Minister Wes Streeting, who said Britain would prefer to have additional channels of communication with Moscow, particularly at a military-to-military level, to reduce the risk of miscalculation.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-11
Russia's Defence Ministry would be willing to speak with its British counterpart if London reached out, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday.
2026-11-11 · The Straits Times
Russia says military-to-military contacts with Britain are possible if London reaches out · assertive framing

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

Russia says military-to-military contacts with Britain are possible if London reaches out asserted
London → say → Britain
Russia's Defence Ministry would be willing to speak with its British counterpart if London reached out, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday. asserted
Zakharova → speak → Wednesday
Zakharova was commenting on remarks by British Defence Minister Wes Streeting, who said Britain would prefer to have additional channels of communication with Moscow, particularly at a military-to-military level, to reduce the risk of miscalculation. asserted
Britain → comment → miscalculation
"I can confidently recommend that the British Defence Secretary contact the Russian Ministry of Defence. asserted
Secretary → recommend → Defence
They'll pick up the phone and have a conversation," Zakharova told a press briefing. asserted
Zakharova → pick → briefing
Relations between Britain and Russia are at at a low ebb due to the war in Ukraine with London emerging as one of Ukraine's staunchest allies and most hawkish Western voices when it comes to new sanctions and pressure on Moscow. asserted
it → emerge → Moscow
Streeting said in a Financial Times interview published on Tuesday that Britain's embassy in Moscow was still operational, but that he wanted more communications channels. asserted
he → say → channels
Zakharova on Wednesday blamed Britain for shutting down its communications channels with Russia in 2024 when she said London has expelled Russia's military attache at its embassy under a false pretext, something she said smacked of incompetence. asserted
she → blame → incompetence
London accused the diplomat it expelled at the time of being an undeclared military intelligence officer. asserted
it → accuse → time
Give feedback · no sign-in needed

No sign-in needed for now. Your note is sent without a name, so it cannot be answered.

History Support
Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0
Articles to 11 Nov 2026