This was the first conversation between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and new Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who replaced Sergei Shoigu in May. The two sides gave very different accounts of the conversation.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Photo: Sputnik
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said Austin and Belousov discussed the importance of open lines of communication. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said Belousov warned Austin about the dangers of continuing to supply U.S. weapons to Ukraine in its 28-month conflict with Russia.
"Minister Belousov pointed out the risk of further escalation of the situation through continued US arms supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app after the call.
Last week, Russia said diplomatic contacts between President Vladimir Putin's government and President Joe Biden's administration were now at a "minimal" level.
Over the weekend, Russia said the United States was directly responsible for Ukraine's attack on the Crimean peninsula with five US-supplied missiles that killed four people. The Pentagon said earlier this week that Ukraine made the targeting decision itself.
On June 25, Moscow's arms control chief, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, warned that if the West underestimated Moscow's resolve, it could lead to "tragic and fatal" consequences because the US and its allies were confronting a major nuclear power.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cac-bo-truong-quoc-phong-cua-my-va-nga-len-tieng-sau-vu-tan-cong-o-crimea-post300777.html
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