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Following the NATO summit, the defense ministers of the USA and Russia engaged in a phone conversation to address the risk reduction of potential escalations. The USA aims to deploy weapon systems in Germany by 2026, extending their reach towards Russia. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Selenskyy is in the USA advocating for increased support for his nation. Amidst these developments, the U.S. Defense Secretary spoke with the Russian counterpart, emphasizing the importance of ongoing communication amidst the Ukraine conflict. NATO, post-summit, has pledged enhanced support for Ukraine and aims to bolster defense capabilities while also preparing for potential shifts in US leadership that could impact NATO's strategies and operations.

The US and Russian defense chiefs recently spoke by phone, with divergent accounts of the discussion. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russia's former defense minister and military chief of staff for war crimes in Ukraine. Russia also banned access to 81 EU media outlets, accusing them of spreading misinformation about the Ukraine conflict. The call between the defense chiefs came amidst rising tensions over a recent attack on Crimea, which Russia blamed on the US. The ICC's arrest warrants accuse Russia's former defense minister and military chief of staff of directing missile strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine. This marks the first phone call between the Russian and US defense ministers in over a year, with both sides exchanging views on the Ukraine situation and other matters. The risk of direct conflict between Russia and NATO is increasing due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.