Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Russian counterpart, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoygu, on Friday for the first time since May.
The DOD leader “emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid the ongoing war against Ukraine” during their conversation, according to Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in a statement to reporters, while the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Telegram that the two defense leaders “discussed international security problems, notably the situation in Ukraine.”
‘INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO SPECULATE’: PENTAGON DOWNPLAYS MIDTERM IMPACT ON UKRAINE AID
Austin “initiated” the call, deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said during a press briefing on Friday. She declined to provide much additional information outside the readout, but Singh noted that “today provided a good opportunity to connect.”
Friday’s call between Austin and Shoygu is only the second time they’ve spoken since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. That call was back on May 13, and a readout from then-Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that Austin “urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication.”
Prior to that conversation, they hadn’t spoken since roughly a week before the invasion.
Also on Friday, Austin spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov, where he “reiterate[d] the unwavering U.S. commitment to supporting Ukraine’s ability to counter Russia’s aggression,” according to a separate readout from Ryder. “Secretary Austin also underscored the international community’s continued support in building Ukraine’s enduring strength and safeguarding Ukraine’s ability to defend itself in the future, as demonstrated by the security assistance commitments made by allies and partners at the most recent Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on October 12.”
A day earlier, the Biden administration revealed that Iranian military officials traveled to Crimea to train Russian forces on the drones they purchased from the Middle Eastern country, which denies the claims.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The administration will “pursue all means to expose, deter, and confront Iran’s provision of these munitions against the Ukrainian people,” Kirby, who is now at the National Security Council, told reporters on Thursday. “We’re going to continue to vigorously enforce all U.S. sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arms trade. We’re going to make it harder for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia.”
Russian forces have used Iranian drones in a consistent campaign of missile strikes over the past two weeks that have targeted dozens of cities and villages across Ukraine, including some that have largely avoided the front lines of the war.
