Russian and US defense ministers discussed the issue of Ukraine

During a phone call between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, they discussed the situation in Ukraine. The first diplomatic contact in a long time took place between the US and Russia, which have been in a state of tension due to the Ukraine crisis. In a written statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, it was stated that ‘At the initiative of the American side, a phone call took place between Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The defense ministers exchanged views on the situation around Ukraine.’ The statement further conveyed that the Russian side criticized the US for providing military support to Ukraine, stating that ‘Belousov pointed out the risk of escalating tension due to the ongoing supply of American weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.’ Moreover, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder confirmed during a press briefing that Belousov and Austin had a phone call, saying ‘During the call, Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of keeping communication lines open during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.’ Ryder also reminded that the Russian and US defense ministers had their latest meeting on March 15, 2023.