The defense ministers of the United States and Russia held a telephone conversation for the first time in one year and three months.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Secretary of Defense Austin spoke by phone with Russian Defense Minister Belousov on the 25th.

Secretary Austin “emphasized the importance of communication as Russia continues its aggression in Ukraine,” but Pentagon spokesman Ryder said he could not provide further details about the content of the meeting.

This is the first telephone conversation between the defense ministers of the United States and Russia in about 15 months, since last March when the United States claimed, while Russia denied, that a Russian fighter jet had crashed into a U.S. military drone in the Black Sea.

It was also the first time that Secretary of Defense Austin spoke by telephone with Defense Minister Belousov, who was appointed in May.

Source: Japanese