Russia and US Begin Talks as Russia Sends Jets, Gunships to Syria

The United States and Russia have begun military to military discussions on the war in Syria as the latter continues to increases its military presence in the war torn country.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Russian Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu have begun a dialogue intended to help both sides avoid accidentally coming into conflict in the skies above Syria as both nations target the Islamic State, according to The New York Times.

The United States for the last two weeks has been warning Russia to not step up its involvement in the Syrian conflict and the decision to begin talks is a recognition that Russia is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Indeed, Russia has sent four Su-27 fighter jets to the new air base the country in constructing near Latakia. Russia has also deployed four helicopter gun ships and four troop transport helicopters to the new base. In the past 10 days, Russia has flown 20 Condor airplane supply flights to the new base, which is already equipped with a portable air traffic control center.

There are also a half dozen tanks set up in defensive positions on and around the airfield. Russia has also positioned mobile artillery units to protect the 200 marines and their armored personnel carriers that have been deployed to the base.

The United States hopes that the military to military talks will help to created a warmer relationship between both countries, which have been starkly at odds over Russia's intervention in Eastern Ukraine.