Shoigu held talks with the head of the US Department of Defense

"On August 18, at the initiative of the American side, telephone negotiations were held between the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, with the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Mark Esper," RIA Novosti quoted a message from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

It is noted that the ministers discussed issues of strengthening confidence-building measures and transparency to "prevent incidents during the military activities of the parties."

In June, it became known about telephone conversations between the chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, and the chairman of the committee of chiefs of staff of the US Armed Forces, Mark Milli.