WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) – US Senior Military Officer General Mark Millie spoke by telephone with Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the Pentagon said on Thursday, the first conversation between the two since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
“Military leaders have discussed several security issues and agreed to keep the lines of communication open,” said a spokesman for Millie, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“In line with current practice, the specific details of their conversation will be kept secret,” the spokesman added.
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Reporting US military information does not mention any specific issues discussed.
The RIA news agency, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, said the two military leaders had discussed issues of “mutual interest”, including Ukraine.
The call came after US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart last week and the Pentagon chief called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
The United States and Russia have set up a hotline since the invasion – which Moscow calls a “special military operation” – began on February 24th to prevent miscalculations and any escalation of the conflict.
The Deconflict Hotline is an open telephone line based at the European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, and reports to Air Force General Todd Walters, who commands all US forces in Europe.
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, Walters said he hoped the talks between Mili and Gerasimov would be one step closer to a diplomatic solution in Ukraine.
However, there appears to be little momentum on the diplomatic front, more than two months after the Russian invasion, which left thousands dead or wounded, turned cities into ruins and forced more than 5 million people to flee abroad.
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Report by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; edited by Jonathan Oatis
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