10 minutes agoUS, Russian defence ministers discuss war in Ukraine
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)On Friday, 21 October, US and Russian defence secretaries held a telephone conversation, at a rare high-level contact point between the two countries since the launch of Ukraine's Russian occupation. Both the US and Russia confirmed that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart [...]
Both the US and Russia confirmed that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in Ukraine.
After Friday's call, the Pentagon indicated that Austin had “highlighted the importance of maintaining communication lines amid the ongoing fight against Ukraine”.
The Russian Defence Ministry said “discussed current international security issues, including the situation in Ukraine”.
Following their previous conversation in May, Austin urged his counterpart to establish an immediate ceasefire ʹa request not mentioned this time.
The conversation of the two officials came at the time following Russian President Vladimir Putin's explanation that he might be willing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and warnings from US President Joe Biden, if that would happen.
The already cool relations between the United States and Russia deteriorated even more since the invasion of Ukraine.
The leaders of the two countries had a meeting in mid-2021, which was seen as a positive step towards a better relationship. But this progress stalled after tensions escalated over Ukraine.
Putin and Biden held several calls in the months before the war, in which the American president warned his Russian counterpart to withdraw from the invasion plans. Since February, when Russia's military aggression began, there has been no conversation between leaders of the two countries.
Russia has publicly condemned US and West on efforts to influence war by supplying weapons and other aid to Ukraine
