Expert suggests what US and Russian defense ministers talking about

This opinion was expressed by diplomat and expert on foreign and security policy at the Center for Defense Strategies Oleksandr Khara in a commentary to Ukrinform.

"This (the conversation between the defense ministers of the United States and the Russian Federation – ed.) a common and absolutely correct practice, since these are the two largest nuclear powers, and they must have open channels of communication. It's completely abnormal when, on the contrary, they don't exist," Khara said. 

He recalled that this practice was first introduced after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

"We understand that Russia is a terrorist country and a sponsor of terrorism, but given that it is the largest nuclear power, the United States and, I think, several other countries that are not in friendly relations with the Russian Federation should talk to it," Khara said. 

He suggested that the head of the Pentagon and the Minister of Defense of the aggressor country talked about Russian nuclear rhetoric and "certain actions that could threaten the security of not only Ukraine." 

"I think Ukraine was also discussed, including Russia's war crimes, which we can qualify as acts of genocide against Ukraine. Therefore, this is an absolutely normal thing, I would not look for any negative moments for us," the expert said.

As reported by Ukrinform, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had his second phone conversation with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov on July 12.

Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh clarified that the conversation "was initiated by the Russian defense minister."

The previous conversation between Austin and Belousov took place on June 25. Before that, the US and Russian defense ministers spoke in March last year.