Russia wants talks with the U.S. military to ensure their forces do not come into conflict as it continues its build-up in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.
Washington has expressed concern about Moscow's growing military support for the Syrian regime, even as it conducts its own air strikes against Islamic State rebels in the country.
"The Russians proposed in a conversation I had today, and in the last conversation specifically, that we have a military-to-military conversation and meeting," Kerry said.
"So we are currently evaluating. The White House, the Defense Department, the State Department are discussing the next steps in order to determine the best way forward."
The United States suspended military-to-military dialogue with Moscow in March 2014 after Russian forces were accused of intervening in support of separatist rebels in Ukraine.
A Pentagon official said the U.S. military has no immediate plans to reopen ties but that "senior leaders continue to have the discretion to communicate with their counterparts as necessary."