The warning of Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov had an effect on Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin, which made it possible to avoid escalation. This was announced today, August 4, by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on the Russia 1 TV channel.
"I can say that according to some signs, the signal that was sent from the Russian side to Washington and, as I understand it, not only to Washington, but also reached some other capitals controlled by Washington. We have avoided a new escalation round," Ryabkov said, commenting on the conversation between the heads of the defense departments of the Russian Federation and the United States.
As reported by EADaily , on July 12, the chapter Ministry OF Defense OF THE Russian Federation Andrei Belousov and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation and exchanged views on the situation around the conflict in Ukraine. The conversation took place on the initiative of the Russian side.
According to NYT sources, after Belousov's call, the United States contacted the Ukrainian side and warned it not to conduct some kind of covert operation against Russia. The Pentagon later confirmed that "the issue of preventing security threats and reducing the risk of possible escalation was discussed."