US Defense Secretary calls Russian Defense Minister

The US defense secretary and his Russian counterpart spoke by phone on June 25, Reuters reported. This is a rare contact between the two leading military powers. It comes amid heightened tensions following Ukraine's attack on the Crimean Peninsula over the weekend.

Moscow and Washington have given very different accounts of the phone call – the first between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and new Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who replaced Sergei Shoigu in May.

The Pentagon said Austin and Belousov discussed the importance of open lines of communication. Austin initiated the conversation and it was the first such call since March last year, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters.

The lack of communication between senior Russian military and defense officials and their American counterparts has raised concerns in the Pentagon about the risk of miscalculation, the New York Times reported.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Photo: Anadolu

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said Mr. Belousov warned Mr. Austin about the dangers of the United States continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine in the 28-month-old conflict.

“The two ministers exchanged views on the situation around Ukraine,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app after the call, noting that the conversation took place “at the initiative of the US side.”

“Andrei Belousov pointed out the risk of further escalation of the situation related to the US arms supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces,” the statement said. “Other issues were also discussed.”

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Photo: France24

Relations between Moscow and Washington have sunk to their lowest point since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis after Russia launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022.

Diplomatic contacts between the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the administration of US President Joe Biden are now at a “minimal” level, Moscow said last week.

The Kremlin warned the United States of “consequences” and summoned its ambassador on June 24 after Moscow said Ukraine had fired five US-supplied missiles into the Crimean Peninsula, killing four people. The Pentagon said earlier this week that Ukraine made the targeting decision itself.

Minh Duc (According to Reuters, AFP/France24, NY Times)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/bo-truong-quoc-phong-my-dien-dam-voi-bo-truong-quoc-phong-nga-a670059.html