Russian military has rejected United States’ calls for dialogue: Pentagon

Pentagon on Thursday alleged that
senior Russian military leaders have rejected their calls for dialogue since
before the invasion of Ukraine began. The Pentagon spokesman addressed a press conference on Thursday.

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“Over the past month, Secretary Austin
and Chairman Milley have sought, and continue to seek, calls with their Russian
counterparts. Minister Shoigu and General Gerasimov have so far declined to
engage. We continue to believe that engagement between U.S. and Russian defense
leaders is critically important at this time,” Pentagon press secretary
John Kirby said in a statement.

The last time Austin spoke with Russian
Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu was on February 18, reported CNN. Joint Chiefs
Chairman General Mark Milley last spoke to the Chief of Russian General Staff
General Valery Gerasimov on February 11.

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Ukraine, despite being under heavy
bombardment by Russia now for more than three weeks, has begun to shift the
battlefield momentum in some areas to reclaim ground from invading forces, a
Pentagon spokesman had said Tuesday.

In the meantime, US President Joe Biden and
world leaders opened a trio of emergency summits on Thursday with a sober
warning from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that the alliance must
boost its defences to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “respond to
a new security reality in Europe.”

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The NATO summit focused on increasing
pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the assault on Ukraine while
tending to the economic and security fallout spreading across Europe and the
world.

The US, meanwhile, announced that it would
accept up to 100,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. It was a major step
toward easing a brewing humanitarian crisis in Europe.

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President Joe Biden was expected to unveil
the decision as he travels in Europe to rally support behind a united approach
to the crisis. Leaders from Poland in particular have called on the US to
expedite the processing of refugees with family in the US.

More than 3.6 million people have now fled
Ukraine, according to the latest update from the UN Refugee Agency.