Lloyd and Shoigu talking on the phone about Ukraine

Russian state news agency RIA said Russia's Sergei Shoigu spoke with US counterpart Lloyd Austin.

They discussed current international security issues, including the situation in Ukraine, writes Skynews.

Today's “Talks between Shoigu and the head of the Pentagon are second since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine”, the report says.

The last “were in May, the topic of discussion then was the same issue of international security, including the situation in Ukraine”.

The Russian Defence Ministry said in a post to Telegram that the call occurred.

Pentagon said Austin had “thex