The US and Russian defence chiefs held a telephonic conversation on June 25, amid rising tensions over the war in Ukraine. The two sides gave divergent accounts of the first conversation between US Defense Secretary Austin and Russia’s new Defense Minister Belousov. The Pentagon said Austin and Belousov discussed the importance of open lines of communication. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Austin and Belousov “exchanged views on the situation around Ukraine” at the “initiative of the American side.” Russia has warned Seoul that supplying Kyiv with weapons will have “irreversible consequences for bilateral relations.” Watch the video to know more.