US-Russian talks on their separate fights against the Islamic State group are becoming more productive and more frequent, American officials have said, with both sides trading information in real time and even outlining some of their strategic objectives in the months ahead. The progress dispels the notion that ties between the former Cold War foes are "frozen".
In the discussions, Russia has made clear its counter-terrorism priority in Syria is retaking the ancient city of Palmyra, officials said. The US is determined to pressure ISIS' headquarters in Raqqa.

The closer contacts between the two countries have developed despite their bitter accusations against each other over the devastation in Aleppo and Moscow's claim that relations are now "frozen on all practical levels".

The confidential military discussions aren't focusing on their opposing positions in Syria's civil war, where Russia is fighting alongside the government and the United States has backed rebel groups, officials said.


But US officials with knowledge of the ongoing conversations are crediting both sides with putting aside much of the public animosity, which has included Washington's accusations of Russian war crimes in Aleppo and Moscow's charges of American support for terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda.

Much of the talk has concerned the two nations' immediate operations.

Since December 15, the US-led coalition has conducted airstrikes on about two dozen locations around Palmyra, destroying air defence weapons, tanks, aircraft shelters, storage bunkers and other vehicles and equipment. At the same time, US and Russian officials having been ensuring that the two militaries' don't cross paths in the airspace above the city that ISIS militants seized for the second time earlier this month, and that American strikes don't mistakenly hit Russian or Syrian forces.

Broader plans

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