Few details have emerged of Friday’s conversation, but both sides confirmed discussing the Ukraine war in the conversation.
United States defence secretary Lloyd Austin has held a rare telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, with the Ukraine war featuring in the talks, according to the defence ministry from both countries.
The Pentagon on Friday declined to offer specifics beyond saying that Austin, who initiated the conversation, emphasised a need for lines of communication amid the war in Ukraine.
“Topical issues of international security – including the situation in Ukraine – were discussed,” said Russia’s defence ministry.
Few details emerged of Friday’s conversation – only the second call between the ministers since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24. Back in May, Austin had urged Moscow to implement an “immediate ceasefire”.
The call comes as pro-Kremlin officials in Ukraine’s east said they were turning the country’s southern city of Kherson into a “fortress” as Kyiv’s forces advance. Ukraine said on Friday it had retaken a total of 88 towns and villages in the region since launching its offensive to retake Kherson in September.
Kyiv’s forces in recent weeks – aided by Western weapons – have been advancing along the west bank of the Dnieper river towards the region’s main city Kherson.
Ukraine’s push in the south comes after a sweeping counteroffensive in the northeast Kharkiv region that has badly…
