Pentagon chief has second call with Russian defense chief since war-start

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke over the phone with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu in a second call since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

That’s according to a readout of the call released by the Pentagon, Ukrinform reports.

“On October 21, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu,” the Pentagon stated.

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Secretary Austin “emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid the ongoing war against Ukraine,” the readout says.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the first time the two top defense officials spoke since Russia unleashed its war on Ukraine was on May 13 when Austin urged Shoygu to immediately cease hostilities.

Photo: picture alliance / NurPhoto