The Secretary of Defense spoke with his Russian counterpart Friday morning, the second known call since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February.
The Pentagon's press secretary said that Austin spoke with the Russian defense minister. In a separate statement, the Kremlin confirmed the call.
The defense minister talked to Austin in a separate call. The two discussed the need for more air defense systems in the U.S.
According to the Pentagon, Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of keeping lines of communication open. In May, the two leaders spoke.
As the war enters its ninth month and as Ukraine continues a stunning counteroffensive to take back more of Russian-occupied territory in the east and south, the call came.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (C) meet soldiers during a visit at a military training centre of the Western Military District for mobilized reservists, outside the town of Ryazan on October 20, 2022.The Secretary of State exchanged barbs with his Russian counterpart during a UN Security Council meeting. There are reports of war crimes committed by Russian forces. Mass graves were found in the Ukrainian cities of Izyum and Bucha.
Russia's foreign minister denied the allegations and blamed the deaths on Ukraine. The United States, France and Germany did not hold Ukraine accountable for the alleged atrocities.
In the last few days, Moscow has launched missiles and drones against what it said were civilian targets. Russia is accused of using Iranian drones in its attacks. Tehran and Moscow deny the allegations.
The implications of Iranian arms transfers to Russia were raised in a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting.
Iran has been accused of violating a UN Security Council resolution by giving Russia drones. Unless the UN Security Council approves it in advance, the transfer of all items, materials, equipment and goods from Iran to another nation is forbidden.
Iran has not violated its commitments due to the fact that such transfers are outside the scope of the 2015 resolution, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador.
He called for a resolution to the war and pointed out that Tehran was neutral in it.
Iran has advocated for peace and an end to the conflict inUkraine.
He said that the claims were false and that the west was trying to spread misinformation about his country. The baseless allegations were disappointing.
The drones found in Ukraine are Russian-made, according to the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations.
There are Russian inscriptions on the images of the drones that were downed in Ukranian. He said that he is not a drone expert and could not give any more information.
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