US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of more bilateral contacts with Russia amid the special military operation in Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.
"Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who requested continued engagement, and Defense Minister Austin rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reiterated the value of continued communication" amid the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, the statement said. ".

The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier today that Shoigu had another phone conversation with his US counterpart, the second since Friday.

The Middle East News Agency