Russia Makes Phone Call to Pentagon After NATO Summit

The Pentagon said it’s ‘incredibly important’ to keep lines of communication open, while the Kremlin said talks focused on lowering the risk of escalation.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin delivers remarks during a public forum as part of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington on July 10, 2024. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Russia’s top military brass reached out for a phone call with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin one day after the conclusion of the NATO summit in Washington.

A Pentagon spokesperson highlighted the importance of keeping open lines of communication, while the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the discussions focused on reducing the risk of “possible escalation.”