▁we ▁have ." ▁ ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁Trump ▁administration ▁began ▁new ▁high - level ▁engag ements ▁with ▁Russian ▁government ▁officials ▁by ▁sched uling ▁a ▁meeting ▁between ▁Russia ' s ▁top ▁general ▁Val ery ▁Ger as im ov ▁and ▁the ▁NAT O ▁Supreme ▁Al lied ▁Commander ▁Europe , ▁General ▁Curt is ▁Sc ap ar rott i . ▁ ▁N ul and ▁stated , ▁" Th ese ▁channels ▁are ▁especially ▁vital ▁at ▁a ▁time ▁when ▁relations ▁at ▁the ▁leader ▁level ▁are ▁so ▁un predict able ." ▁ ▁She ▁said ▁Sc ap ar rott i ▁was ▁" uni qu ely ▁position ed " ▁to ▁address ▁concerns ▁about ▁Russia ' s ▁" ongo ing ▁military ▁role ▁in ▁Ukraine , ▁its ▁IN F ▁treat y ▁viol ations , ▁its ▁active ▁measures ▁to ▁und erm ine ▁Trans at l antic ▁dem oc ra cies ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁strateg ic ▁t ensions ▁that ▁are ▁driving ▁the ▁US ▁and ▁its ▁al lies ▁to ▁take ▁stronger ▁d eter rent ▁measures ." ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁ ▁Official ▁bi ography ▁at ▁the ▁U . S . ▁State ▁Department ▁ ▁Official ▁bi ography ▁at ▁the ▁U . S . ▁State ▁Department ▁( 2 0 0 8 ▁archive ) ▁ ▁Official ▁bi ography ▁at ▁the ▁U . S . ▁NAT O ▁Mission ▁website ▁( 2 0 1 0 ▁archive ) ▁▁ ▁C - SP AN ▁Q & A ▁interview ▁with ▁N ul and , ▁June ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁ ▁| - ▁