Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov on Wednesday urged Washington to halt “enemy” flights near the Russian border after an American drone intercepted by Russian fighters crashed in the Black Sea the day before.
“We expect that the United States will refrain from further speculation in the media space and will halt flights near Russian borders,” Antonov said in a statement on Telegram.
“We view any action involving the use of American weapons as openly hostile,” he said.
“Russia does not seek confrontation and remains in the interests of the peoples of our countries for pragmatic cooperation,” assured Mr. Antonov.
The US on Tuesday accused the Russian air force of “intercepting and ramming” an American Reaper drone over the Black Sea and causing it to crash.
Russia has denied these allegations while acknowledging that two of its fighters had intercepted an American drone that had been spotted “in the territory of the Crimean peninsula” and was advancing “towards” the Russian borders.
“Russian fighters did not use their weapons” and did not come into contact with the drone, which flew “with disabled transponders” and “violated the zone of the provisional regime for the use of airspace established for the implementation of the special military.” Operation” in Ukraine, according to the Russian army.