The Kremlin stated Wednesday that its relations with the US had been in a “lamentable state” and at their lowest stage, after Washington accused Russia of downing one among its reconnaissance drones over the Black Sea.
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated there had been no high-level contact with Washington over the incident and that he had nothing so as to add to an announcement issued by Russia’s Defence Ministry.
He stated bilateral relations had been “at their lowest level, in a really lamentable state” however that “on the identical time, Russia has by no means refused constructive dialogue, and isn’t refusing now.”
The U.S. navy stated Tuesday {that a} Russian fighter airplane had clipped the propeller of one among its spy drones because it flew over the Black Sea in worldwide air area, inflicting it to plunge into the water.
U.S. Air Pressure Basic James Hecker known as it an “unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians.”
Russia denied hitting the drone, suggesting it had crashed resulting from “sharp maneuvering.”
Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s SVR international intelligence service, informed Russian reporter Pavel Zarubin that the US was “very energetic” in area, visible and radio reconnaissance within the area.
“We have now an in depth data and understanding of the intelligence goals of the US utilizing technological means, and we attempt to establish the objects which can be of biggest curiosity to them,” he stated in a video posted on-line.
Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, stated the drone “intentionally and provocatively was shifting in the direction of Russian territory with transponders turned off.”
“The unacceptable exercise of the U.S. navy in shut proximity to our borders is a trigger for concern,” Antonov stated. “They’re amassing intelligence, which is subsequently utilized by the Kyiv regime to strike at our armed forces and territory.”