US Defense Secretary Speaks With Russian Counterpart for First Time in Months: Pentagon

US Defense Secretary Speaks With Russian Counterpart for First Time in Months: Pentagon
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks with reporters after returning from their trip to Kyiv and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, near the Ukraine border, in Poland, on April 25, 2022. Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
|Updated:

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held his first phone call with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the Pentagon on Friday.

Austin, according to a Pentagon readout of the call, “urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication.” The statement, which said it’s the first time the two have spoken since Feb. 18, did not provide more details.
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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