US, Russian Defense Chiefs Speak by Phone as Tensions Mount Over Crimea Missile Attack

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has spoken by phone with his Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov, amid steadily mounting tension between Washington and Moscow. Held on June 25 at Mr. Austin’s request, the telephone call came two days after a Ukrainian missile attack on Crimea left four Russian civilians dead. Moscow has laid responsibility for the deadly incident on the United States, which supplied Kyiv with the long-range missiles reportedly used in the attack. Speaking to his Russian counterpart, Mr. Austin “emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told reporters....