U.S. defense chief urge immediate Ukraine ceasefire in call with Russian counterpart

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine when he spoke by telephone to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Friday, the Pentagon said.

"Secretary Austin urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication," the Pentagon said in a statement.

It was the first time since Russia carried out special military operation on February 24 that the two men had spoken.

(CGTN)