Home › Politics › What did the Austin–Shoigu call signal in May 2022?
What did the Austin–Shoigu call signal in May 2022?
Summary
A look back at a diplomatic contact between Washington and Moscow, and a sporting decision, reported in the days before 15 May 2022.
What was happening in the diplomatic and sporting arenas around 15 May 2022? Two reports from the preceding days offer a snapshot.
On 13 May 2022, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. It was the first meeting between the two since the start of the invasion, and it was listed among the government and intergovernmental reactions to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, under Russia–United States relations.
A day earlier, on 12 May 2022, it was reported that tennis players from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete at the upcoming French Open as neutral athletes. Players who spoke in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin would face sanctions.
The two items sit in different spheres, one in defence diplomacy and the other in sport. Both show how the war was shaping contacts and restrictions involving Russia and Belarus in mid-May 2022.
