Biden praises Sweden, Finland NATO bid; Senate approves $40 billion in Ukraine aid

Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with his Russian counterpart on Thursday, defense officials said, in the first such discussion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The military leaders discussed several security-related issues of concern and agreed to keep the lines of communication open,” Col. Dave Butler, Joint Chiefs spokesman, said in a statement, declining to offer additional details of the discussion, “in accordance with past practices.” The last discussion the leaders had was on Feb. 11, about two weeks before the invasion, officials said.

The discussion comes days after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked his Russian counterpart in an hour-long discussion to consider a cease-fire.

“I think what we all want the most is for diplomacy to come to the forefront,” Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, NATO’s supreme allied commander, told reporters soon after the Pentagon announced the call. “It is my hope as result of that conversation we get one step closer to achieving a diplomatic solution.”