The United States made clear to Russia on Friday the “importance of maintaining communication channels” in a telephone conversation between those responsible for the two countries’ defense portfolios, in which they discussed the war in Ukraine.
According to the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in that conversation that their respective governments should keep communication channels open as tensions rise between Washington and Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the appeal, saying that “several international security issues, including the situation in Ukraine,” were being addressed.
This was the second conversation between the two defense officials since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, after another phone call on May 13.
Austin also spoke with Ukraine’s Defense Secretary Oleksii Reznikov “to reiterate the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian aggression,” Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in turn, said the United States will maintain contacts with Russia, but added that broader diplomacy depends on President Vladimir Putin showing an interest “in stopping the aggression” against Ukraine.
“We have not seen any evidence of that at the moment. On the contrary, we see Russia doubling and tripling its aggression,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
In that sense, the US leader called the recent Russian attacks on power plants and other civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as the partial mobilization of troops, which he found “terrible” as it is “cannon fodder that Putin is trying to introduce into the war.” .
“The fundamental difference is that Ukrainians are fighting for their country, for their country, for their future. And Russia is not. The sooner President Putin understands this and comes to that conclusion, the sooner we can end this war,” Blinken said. .
The last time the US Secretary of State met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in January this year to warn of the consequences of an invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow eventually carried out a month later. .
Since then, Blinken has refused to meet Lavrov, but the two spoke on the phone in July in an effort to free American citizens stranded in Russia.
Washington accuses Moscow of violating international law with the “unjustified” invasion of Ukraine, as well as denouncing attempts at Russian interference in US electoral processes.
Russia accuses the United States and Western allies of trying to prolong the conflict in Ukraine by offering Kiev financial and military aid.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified that he sees “no need” to talk to his US counterpart, Joe Biden, although he has not ruled out the possibility, which could be carried out on the sidelines of a summit. G20, scheduled for mid-November in Indonesia.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24 has already resulted in more than 13 million people having fled — more than six million internally displaced persons and more than 7.5 million to European countries — according to the latest UN data, identified this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the generality of the international community, which has responded by sending arms to Ukraine and impose it on Russia. political and economic sanctions.
Source: DN
