U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's Phone Calls Are Not Being Returned From Russia

In happier times. Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoigu and US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel shaking hands at NATO-Russia Council in Brussels. RT

Pentagon: Hagel's Russian Counterpart Won't Return His Calls -- FOX News

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel cannot get his Russian counterpart to take his calls, the Pentagon said Friday -- amid a new report that the Kremlin has suspended high-level talks with U.S. officials.

Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters that Hagel is trying to speak with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, but the Russian Defense Ministry won't return his calls.

"We have made it clear to the Russians that Secretary Hagel is available for a phone call anytime," Warren said. "We have reached out to them and made it very clear to them that he is willing to speak with his counterpart" -- but, Warren said, "we have not heard back."

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My Comment: We first learned a few days ago the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers were no longer talking to each other. Last night we learned that Russian President Putin will no longer accept any phone calls from President Obama. And we learn today that the U.S. Secretary of Defense is being given the cold shoulder by his counterpart in Moscow.

So the question now needs to be asked .... even though there has been no formal announcement .... has Russia just broken diplomatic ties with the U.S.?