What did US-Russia defence talks signal in May 2022?

What did the first direct contact between Washington's and Moscow's defence chiefs amount to, as of 14 May 2022? 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.

The call marked a change in one respect: the two countries' defence leaders were speaking directly again after the invasion began. Reports at the time described it only as a meeting and a first of its kind since the war started.

Elsewhere, the consequences of the war reached sport. On 12 May 2022, it was announced 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.

Together, the two developments show how the invasion shaped both official channels and international competition in mid-May 2022: one door opened between military leaders, while participation in sport came with conditions.