Streeting warns Putin could trigger world war by mistake as he calls for military-level communications with Russia to help avoid 'miscalculation'

Published: 04:21 EST, 10 November 2026 | Updated: 04:50 EST, 10 November 2026 Wes Streeting has warned Vladimir Putin could trigger a new war in Europe by mistake as he said he would like the British and Russian military to talk more to avoid a conflict starting by accident.The Defence Secretary said 'additional channels' of communication, especially between the respective armed forces, would lower the 'risk of miscalculation' as Russia engages in 'state-sponsored terrorism'.His comments came as Russian and Ukrainian officials met at the start of two days of US-brokered talks, their first since February.Relations between Moscow and most European capitals, including London, have been frozen since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.However, the foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September in the first such talks since the invasion.Speaking to the Financial Times, Mr Streeting praised the work of UK diplomats in Moscow's 'hostile environment', adding: 'I would much prefer there to be additional channels too, particularly at a military to military level.'He went on: 'We keep the channels open as best we can. I do think there is always a risk of miscalculation and that's why having that direct communication is important.'The Defence Secretary said 'additional channels' of communication, especially between the respective armed forces, would lower the 'risk of miscalculation' Relations between Moscow and most European capitals, including London, have been frozen since Russia's February 2022 invasion of UkraineLast week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that Putin will not travel to a G20 summit in Britain because of UK sanctions against him. Russian state news agency RIA reported the start of what is scheduled to be two days of talks, in which Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are to mediate between the two warring sides.More than four-and-a-half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and with Russian forces holding about a fifth of the country, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart - despite Trump's optimism - on terms for a possible settlement.The new American drive for a deal has galvanised European officials into pushing for a place at the table to seek an end to the continent's deadliest conflict since the Second World War.Before the start of the main meeting, Kyiv's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said Ukrainian officials had met separately with European, Nato and EU representatives and the two American envoys.Russia had made clear it did not see a place for Europeans at the meeting with the Ukrainians and Americans.On the eve of the talks, Trump said Washington was seeing a 'very strong inclination' towards ending the war, and that both sides were 'tired of fighting'. After meeting privately with Putin's envoy last week at the White House, Trump predicted that a peace deal could emerge soon.Trump has frequently said an agreement to end Europe's deadliest conflict since the Second World War was close, without a deal emerging. However, negotiations have picked up again in recent weeks after months in which Washington's attention was focused on the war in Iran.Publicly, there has been no sign that Mr Putin is willing to drop his insistence that Ukraine surrender the entire eastern region of Donbas before a peace deal can be struck.Ukraine's President Zelensky has staunchly refused to hand over land that his forces have died defending. Russian front-line advances have slowed to a virtual halt this year.