Russia to retaliate if US keeps flying drones over Black Sea: Moscow
4 Min Read
Moscow warns the US against actions that could prompt retaliation.
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This photo taken from video released by the US Department of Defense on Thursday, March 16, 2023, shows a Russian Su-27 exhaust, after the jet approached the back of the MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea. (AP)
The United States' intentions to continue flying drones over the Black Sea will prompt retaliation from Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday.
Ryabkov added that "it is not the depths at which the wreckage of the drone is located that is important, but that it was in the zone where we introduced a special regime related to the conduct of the military operation," stressing that the Americans defiantly, cynically, clearly, and publicly denied the legality of such steps, and declared their intention to continue their activities.
He warned further warned Washington "against trying to play on our nerves, testing our patience."
The Russian Defense Ministry said last week that a US MQ-9 drone fell in the Black Sea after engaging in sharp maneuvering, noting that Russian fighter jets that were sent to intercept it did not come into contact with it or use weapons against it.
The ministry reported that the air control of the Russian Aerospace Forces detected a drone in the region of the Crimean peninsula in the direction of the Russian border.
The US European Command, in turn, said that the incident that resulted in the complete loss of the drone involved a Russian Su-27 aircraft, which allegedly struck the drone's propeller during an "unsafe and unprofessional intercept" over the Black Sea.
Read next: Still unclear whether Black Sea incident intentional: CJCS Gen. Milley
The Deputy Foreign Minister added that Russia calls on the United States to move away from escalation, commenting on US congressmen's call for cluster munitions' supply to Kiev.
US demonstrates will to move along path of escalation
A group of Republican lawmakers on Tuesday addressed Biden in a letter, urging him to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. "We urge the US side not to follow the path of escalation. I am not now taking up the question of how acceptable the use of cluster munitions is in an armed conflict," Ryabkov told reporters.
In fact, every day, the United States demonstrates the will to move along the path of escalation, the diplomat stated, adding that the danger of such a course is obvious to Moscow.
He said that the US congressmen calling for the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine do not realize what the consequences for the attackers could be.
Meanwhile, Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday that Moscow does everything for detente. Clauses in the joint Russian-Chinese statement following the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the inadmissibility of nuclear war and the deployment of nuclear weapons outside the national territory are a direct signal to the United States.
"I cannot but draw your attention to the fact that the documents signed as a result of this visit contain the most important statement regarding the inadmissibility of nuclear war, including the inadmissibility of deploying nuclear weapons outside the national territory. This is a direct signal addressed to the United States," Ryabkov told reporters.
The diplomat stressed that the leaders were urging strategic adversaries to follow the path of de-escalation, stabilization of the situation, return to dialogue, search for a balance of interests, and strengthening strategic stability.
He also mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed arms control. "I proceed from the fact that the whole range of issues related to international security has been considered," Ryabkov said
