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Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by cellphone on Tuesday with Russia’s new protection minister, Andrei Belousov, the Pentagon stated, in a uncommon dialog between the Biden administration and Moscow.
This was the primary cellphone name between the 2 males since Mr. Belousov, an economist, changed Sergei Okay. Shoigu, Russia’s long-running protection minister, in a Kremlin shake-up in Might.
Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated that Mr. Austin “emphasised the significance of sustaining traces of communication amid Russia’s ongoing warfare in opposition to Ukraine.”
Mr. Austin initiated Tuesday’s name and “believes that protecting traces of communication open are essential,” Basic Ryder stated.
The dearth of communications between senior Russian navy and protection officers and their American counterparts has fed fears on the Pentagon of miscalculation dangers.
Mr. Austin and Mr. Belousov “exchanged views on the scenario round Ukraine,” the Russian Protection Ministry stated in an announcement. It added that Mr. Belousov “pointed to the hazard of additional escalation of the scenario in reference to the continued provide of American weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Anton Troianovski contributed reporting.
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