Defense officials from Russia and the US hold their first conversation since May

Latest news on the war between Ukraine and Russia

Oct. 21 () –

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a telephone conversation on Friday to discuss the situation of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin confirmed in a statement.

The talks have revolved around “current issues of international security and, notably, the situation in Ukraine,” according to the Defense Ministry note published on its Telegram account.

Shoigu and Austin have maintained telephone contact at very specific times since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The last recorded conversation occurred in May, when Austin asked his counterpart for an “immediate” ceasefire in the conflict.