Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (Credit: Wikipedia Commons)

By  Gary  Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC    TIMES

WASHINGTON    DC  –   PENTAGON  –   U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin spoke with Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu  on Friday for the first time since Moscow forces invaded Ukraine in February calling for a ceasefire, the Pentagon announced. 

“Secretary Austin urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication.”

-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin (Credit:  US DOD)