Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley spoke with Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian general staff on Thursday, marking the first conversation between the two since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 26.
According to Joint Staff spokesperson Col. Dave Butler, the two “discussed several security-related issues of concern and agreed to keep the lines of communication open."
After the call, officials voiced hopes the move would bring the two sides “one step closer to achieving a diplomatic solution” in the crisis.