Austin and Shoigu hold second talks since February 24: Ukraine, world security issues are discussed

This is reported by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency citing the Russian Ministry of Defense. 

“On October 21, 2022, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General Sergei Shoigu, and the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, had a telephone conversation. Current international security issues were discussed, including the situation in Ukraine,” the message reads.

Russian journalists emphasized that today's negotiations between Shoigu and the head of the Pentagon are the second since the beginning of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The last time they spoke in May and the topic of discussion was the same – urgent issues of international security, including the situation in Ukraine.

This was also reported by the press service of the US Ministry of Defense.

“On October 21, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a telephone conversation with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The US Secretary of State emphasized the importance of maintaining communication lines in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine,” the report said.