U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III again had a telephone conversation with head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Andrei Belousov, the Pentagon said on its website.

“Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov. Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine,” the text provided by Pentagon press Secretary Sabrina Singh reads.

As reported, on June 25, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III had a telephone conversation with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said on the department's website.