“The tone of the interviews was professional.” The source spoke about the conversation between Shoigu and the Pentagon

Russian Ministry of Defense given Here is a short story about the phone call between Shoigu and Austin.

“Current issues of international security were discussed, including the situation in Ukraine. The Russian agency said that the meeting took place at the initiative of the American side.

at the Pentagon limited himself few lines.

“On May 13, Defense Minister Lloyd J. Austin III met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for the first time since February 18. Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby called for an emergency ceasefire in Austin, Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of maintaining lines of communication.

The conversation between Shoigu and Austin lasted about an hour, the tone of the negotiations was “professional”, said Reuters source. However, according to him, this meeting did not resolve any particular issues and will not change Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

How did the US try to reach Shoigu?

Since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the Pentagon has repeatedly tried to establish contact with the Russian side, but to no avail. Kirby first spoke a month later, on March 24.

“During the past month [министр обороны США] Austin and the President [Объединенного комитета начальников штабов генерал Марк] Milli is trying and still is trying to make phone calls with his Russian colleagues. Minister Shoigu and General [начальник Генштаба России Валерий] Gerasimov has so far been denied contact. “We continue to believe that the interaction between the heads of the US and Russia’s defense departments is critically important,” the Pentagon said.

In early April, the US Secretary of Defense personally declaration Disappointed with the reaction of the RF Ministry of Defense at the hearings in the Senate. According to him, the Pentagon “since mid-February” has been regularly trying to “contact with its colleagues in Russia” and “often” turned to Shoigu and Gerasimov, but “the Russians did not answer”.

“Of course I’m disappointed, but nothing surprises me given what they’ve done. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop communicating with them. I think we should be able to talk to management,” Austin promised.

The Pentagon also opened a direct line of communication with its Russian counterparts in early March to avoid “miscalculations, military incidents and escalation”. The Pentagon called the line a “tactical mechanism.” A Pentagon spokesperson explained that its use is limited, meaning you can’t “call and grumble for any reason.”

Other contacts between the US and Russia during the military operation

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan March 16 phoned With Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council. The Russian Security Council reported that the meeting took place at the initiative of the American side.

Sullivan said during the meeting that the United States would firmly oppose Russia’s “unjust and unjustified invasion of Ukraine”. Sullivan told General Patrushev that Moscow should stop attacking Ukrainian cities and towns if Russia is serious about diplomacy. Sullivan also warned General Patrushev of the possible consequences of Russia’s decision to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Anoshin, representative of the Security Council apparatus, told Washington that he was aware of “Russia’s stance on the inadmissibility of Kyiv’s attempts to delay the negotiation process under orders from outside.” “Patrushev urged the American side to influence Kiev to make rapid progress in resolving the crisis through diplomacy,” the Security Council said.

Also, Patrushev said that the United States should stop supporting “neo-Nazis and terrorists in Ukraine” and help transfer “foreign mercenaries”. Also, Washington should refuse to supply arms to Ukraine. The Russian Security Council secretary said these steps only lead to further escalation.

The US State Department also summoned US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan in March, after US President Joe Biden once again called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal”.