United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had negotiations with russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu.
This was the first negotiation between Austin and Shoigu since 18th of February, states the official representative of Pentagon John Kirby.
During the conversation Austin called Shoigu to immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and “emphasized the importance of keeping the dialogue”.
Russian Ministry of Defense in its turn informs that “the important questions on international security were discussed, including the ones on situation in Ukraine”.
They emphasize that “the conversation has happened due to initiative of American side”.
During the previous conversation that happened on 18th of February United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has warned the russian defense minister Sergey Shoygu against aggravation of situation in Ukraine and called russia to withdraw its combat troops from Ukrainian border to its permanent deployment points.
Before this, Austin stated that russian federation has increased the number of troops and military machines at the Ukrainian border. He added, that he was himself a soldier and he knows well that these kind of things are not done without any reason.