U.S. defense officials say Russian officials have repeatedly declined their calls in the past month since the invasion of Ukraine began. In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley have tried setting up calls with their Russian counterparts, but they have “so far declined to engage.”
While at least 264 Ukrainian civilians are dead in Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The city’s mayor added that more than 300 people have sustained injuries and 80 buildings in Kyiv have been destroyed.
This is the latest news.
Here’s Mark Mayfield.