ROME: Russia has taken advantage of its military role in Syria to bolster its naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean region, making the region “very crowded,” NATO’s southern Europe commander said Monday.
US Navy Adm. James Foggo told The Associated Press that Russian President Vladimir Putin had used the desperation of Syrian President Bashar Assad to expand Russian military power beyond Syria’s borders.
Noting some “unsafe or unprofessional” incidents involving Russian aircraft during the Syrian conflict, Foggo said the eastern Mediterranean region was becoming “congested” with Russian vessels.
“It’s something that we have to deal with as professional navies,” he said.
Washington and Moscow say a hotline established in 2015 to prevent incidents between their militaries in Syria has worked well, but recent US, British and French missile strikes against Syrian chemical facilities have raised tensions.
The Russians established a naval base in the Syrian Mediterranean port of Tartus under Bashar’s father, Hafez Assad. Foggo said, however, they’ve recently “brought a lot of aircraft and a lot of ships” to it.
![]()
NATO: Russia uses Syrian war to boost Mediterranean presence
NATO: Russia uses Syrian war to boost Mediterranean presence
Ukrainian negotiators arrive in US for talks on plan to end war: delegation member
- Delegation to meet US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner
- Trump has pushed for an end to the war and has expressed frustration with both sides
KYIV: Ukrainian negotiators have arrived in the United States for talks with the Trump administration on ending almost four years of war with Russia, a member of the delegation said on Saturday.
They will meet US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The talks will take place in Miami just days short of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv is seeking clarity on security guarantees from allies.
“Arrived in the United States. Together with (security chief) Rustem Umerov and (negotiator) David Arakhamia, we will have an important conversation with our American partners regarding the details of the peace agreement,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top aide Kyrylo Budanov said on social media.
“A joint meeting with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and (US Army Secretary) Daniel Driscoll is planned.”
Trump has pushed for an end to the war — Europe’s worst since World War Two — and has expressed frustration with both sides, with no breakthrough made.
He has also pressured Ukraine to accept peace terms that Kyiv likens to capitulation.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the US said a day earlier that the talks would focus on security guarantees and post-war reconstruction.
Zelensky said on Friday he hoped Ukraine would sign agreements with the United States next week.
They will meet US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The talks will take place in Miami just days short of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv is seeking clarity on security guarantees from allies.
“Arrived in the United States. Together with (security chief) Rustem Umerov and (negotiator) David Arakhamia, we will have an important conversation with our American partners regarding the details of the peace agreement,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top aide Kyrylo Budanov said on social media.
“A joint meeting with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and (US Army Secretary) Daniel Driscoll is planned.”
Trump has pushed for an end to the war — Europe’s worst since World War Two — and has expressed frustration with both sides, with no breakthrough made.
He has also pressured Ukraine to accept peace terms that Kyiv likens to capitulation.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the US said a day earlier that the talks would focus on security guarantees and post-war reconstruction.
Zelensky said on Friday he hoped Ukraine would sign agreements with the United States next week.
Latest updates
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.