Analysts and diplomats warn that local incidents between Russia and the United Kingdom (UK) at sea could accidentally provoke a broader direct military conflict, The Times reports.

Government sources say that the UK is seeking dialogue, but the initiative has stalled because Russian counterparts are not answering the calls.

British and Russian military leaders have not spoken for four years, and diplomats fear that a misunderstanding on the high seas could provoke a broader conflict.

UK defense chiefs and government officials are facing growing pressure to restore high-level communication channels with Moscow to prevent an unintended escalation of tension. There has been no direct dialogue between the UK and Russian military leadership for almost four years, since September 2022.

Richard Knighton, after taking up the post of chief of the UK Defense Staff, attempted to contact the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, but the calls remained unanswered.