US, Russian military chiefs resume contact to discuss drone

Welcome Everyone. It's good to be with you again for the 10th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group But before I get to today's agenda, I want to say just *** few words about *** troubling episode yesterday I know that everyone here has heard that Russian aircraft again, engaged in dangerous, reckless and unprofessional practices on Tuesday. in international airspace over the Black Sea Two Russian jets dumped fuel on an unmanned US M Q nine aircraft conducting routine operations in international airspace And one Russian jet intercepted and hit our MQ nine aircraft resulting in *** crash. this hazardous episode is *** part of *** pattern of aggressive and risky and unsafe actions by Russian pilots in international airspace. So make no mistake. The United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows. It is incumbent upon Russia to operate its military aircraft in *** safe and professional manner. But we are now at *** crucial time in the course of Ukraine's fight for freedom. We must all demonstrate our continued resolve and unity. that means following through on our commitments fully and quickly We must provide Ukraine with the full capabilities for the fight ahead including the spare parts, maintenance packages to sustain the critical capabilities provided by provided by the members of this contact group and additional equipment. So this contact group is focused on coordinating long term sustainment. we also need to find ways to get new donations of ammunition and air defense systems to Ukraine. and I'm confident that we will continue to step up to meet Ukraine's needs into the spring and well beyond, And ladies and gentlemen, last April Our contact group began with *** single meeting pulled together by our outstanding teams. But it has grown into *** community of action. and I remain fully committed. and fully confident that we will support Ukraine's defense for the long haul. Now in recent months, the Kremlin has demonstrated again and again that it pays no heed to the lives of its own forces. and has been intensifying its reckless war of conquest. Russia continues enlisting private mercenary companies like the Wagner group and driving inexperienced conscripts to their desk. But Ukraine's ground forces have pushed back Russian forces with the weapons and the tanks donated by the countries in this room. And Russia keeps sending wave after wave of cruise missiles and Iranian suicide drones to terrorize Ukrainian cities and civilians. But Ukraine's air defense systems, many of which this group has provided are fighting back to keep civilians safe from Russia's bombardment. And that's the story of this contact group

Video above: Defense Secretary Austin says Russia 'dangerous, reckless' in drone downingDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he spoke to his Russian counterpart on Wednesday about the destruction of a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, which had brought the two countries closest to direct conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago. It was the first call between Austin and Defense Secretary Sergei Shoigu since October."I just got off the phone with my Russian counterpart, Minister Shoigu," Austin said at a Pentagon press briefing. "As I've said repeatedly, it's important that great powers be models of transparency and communication, and the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows."The U.S. military said it ditched the Air Force MQ-9 Reaper in the sea after a Russian fighter jet struck its propeller. Russia has denied that it caused the incident. The U.S. has said it was working on declassifying surveillance footage from the drone that would show Tuesday's crash.Video below: Russian jet strikes US drone, AP explainsThat Austin and Shoigu were talking underscored the seriousness of the encounter over the Black Sea. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, contact between U.S. and Russian military leaders has been limited, with Russian officials refusing to take U.S. military calls in the early months of the war.Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he also planned to talk to his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces.Gerasimov was named the new commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine in January and its previous commander demoted in an apparent sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dissatisfaction with the state of the war, which has been stalemated.Austin and Shoigu first spoke about Russia's invasion of Ukraine in May 2022. At the time it was the highest level U.S.-Russian contact of the war.Video below: Downed drone may never be recovered, John Kirby saysIn October, they spoke twice in three days as the threat of an escalation was high. Shoigu had accused Ukraine of planning to use a dirty bomb, a claim that was strongly rejected by U.S. and Western allies, who accused Russia of seeking a false pretext to justify further escalation, potentially including the use of a tactical nuclear weapon.The downed $32 million U.S. drone, which contains sensitive technology, has not been recovered. The U.S. does not have military ships operating in the Black Sea, which has been closed since early 2022 to all military vessels except those that have home ports along the sea’s coast, which includes Russia.U.S. officials said Russia has already sent ships to the area and attempted to recover pieces of the drone. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Video above: Defense Secretary Austin says Russia 'dangerous, reckless' in drone downing

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he spoke to his Russian counterpart on Wednesday about the destruction of a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, which had brought the two countries closest to direct conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago. It was the first call between Austin and Defense Secretary Sergei Shoigu since October.

"I just got off the phone with my Russian counterpart, Minister Shoigu," Austin said at a Pentagon press briefing. "As I've said repeatedly, it's important that great powers be models of transparency and communication, and the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows."

The U.S. military said it ditched the Air Force MQ-9 Reaper in the sea after a Russian fighter jet struck its propeller. Russia has denied that it caused the incident. The U.S. has said it was working on declassifying surveillance footage from the drone that would show Tuesday's crash.

Video below: Russian jet strikes US drone, AP explains

That Austin and Shoigu were talking underscored the seriousness of the encounter over the Black Sea. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, contact between U.S. and Russian military leaders has been limited, with Russian officials refusing to take U.S. military calls in the early months of the war.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he also planned to talk to his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces.

Gerasimov was named the new commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine in January and its previous commander demoted in an apparent sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dissatisfaction with the state of the war, which has been stalemated.

Austin and Shoigu first spoke about Russia's invasion of Ukraine in May 2022. At the time it was the highest level U.S.-Russian contact of the war.

Video below: Downed drone may never be recovered, John Kirby says

In October, they spoke twice in three days as the threat of an escalation was high. Shoigu had accused Ukraine of planning to use a dirty bomb, a claim that was strongly rejected by U.S. and Western allies, who accused Russia of seeking a false pretext to justify further escalation, potentially including the use of a tactical nuclear weapon.

The downed $32 million U.S. drone, which contains sensitive technology, has not been recovered. The U.S. does not have military ships operating in the Black Sea, which has been closed since early 2022 to all military vessels except those that have home ports along the sea’s coast, which includes Russia.

U.S. officials said Russia has already sent ships to the area and attempted to recover pieces of the drone. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

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