US top defence official dials Russian counterpart amid mounting trouble at Ukraine border

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley on Friday dialled his Russian counterpart General Valery Gerasimov, as  Washington amplified its warnings that Moscow could inve Ukraine "any time w." top military expressed ir perspectives on international security amid deteriorating situation along eastern borders of Europe, Joint Staff spokesperson Col. Dave Butler said in a statement. He also informed that hering to "past practices" generals agreed to keep gory details of conversation private.

US and Russian military general "discussed several security-related issues of concern. In accordance with past practice, both have agreed to keep specific details of ir conversation private," Joint Staff spokesperson Col. Dave Butler said in a statement.

Russian Defence Ministry also confirmed phone call with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman. "On February 11, 2022, a phone conversation took place between Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces of Russian Federation - First Deputy Minister of Defense of Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, during which military officials discussed relevant issues of international security," Russian ministry said, as quoted by Tass. top military officials last spoke on vember 23, to discuss Russian military build-up along Ukraine-Russia border. As per Moscow, General Milley and General Gerasimov met in Finland last September and expressed views on ways to prevent unprecedented military incidents between two countries.

US warns of 'imminent' invasion of Kyiv

phone comes after US National Security visor (NSA) Jake Sullivan on Friday warned of a potential assault of Ukraine by Russia "any time w." He ded, invasion "could happen" before end of Beijing Winter Olympics. On or hand, US State Secretary Antony Blinken at Foreign Minister-level meets of QU nations issued alerts against Russia's increased military operations in Donbas region. Following cautionary alerts, US, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand have urged ir citizens to fly out of Ukraine "immediately" as situation in ex-Soviet nation "could change in a short tice." Meanwhile, European Union has also asked its n-essential staff to depart.

For unkwn, Ukraine and Russia have remained in conflict since 2014 when latter inved and annexed Crimean peninsula. More than 14,000 people died during battle that devasted Ukraine's industrial heartland Donbas. rift between ex-Soviet nations furr widened after Russia began deploying soldiers on borders of Ukraine, stoking fears of a potential invasion.

Despite linguistic and cultural divide, Russian President Vlimir Putin claims Ukraine and Russia are "one people," which is refused by Ukrainians. In dition, Putin also opposed Kyiv joining NATO and European Union. Currently, over 1,35,000 Russian troops are amassed in Donbas, indicating an imminent war with former province that chose to break away from Moscow's political circle.

Im: AP