Top US general speaks with Russian counterpart for first time since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

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https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-19-22/index.html 

1 hr 45 min ago

Top US general speaks with Russian counterpart for first time since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

From CNN's Ellie Kaufman

Gen. Mark Milley attends a hearing on May 11, in Washington, DC.  (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley spoke with his Russian counterpart, General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by phone on Thursday, a readout of the conversation from Joint Staff spokesperson Col. Dave Butler said.

This is the first conversation between the two leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24.

“The military leaders discussed several security-related issues of concern and agreed to keep the lines of communication open,” the readout of the conversation said.

Milley’s conversation with Gerasimov comes six days after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

The conversation between Austin and Shoigu lasted approximately an hour. Austin used the call to urge Shoigu to implement an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine, according to a brief readout of the call. The last time the two had spoken was Feb. 18, before Russia began their invasion of Ukraine.