BACK OFF TRUMP: Russia furiously HITS BACK at USA over ban on Putin's military flights

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday told the
United States to step back from a confrontation over
military observation flights before the two countries
became embroiled in another round of tit-for-tat
retaliatory measures.
Washington has accused Russia of flouting the so-
called Open Skies Treaty, an agreement designed to
build confidence between the two countries' militaries,
and said it plans to take measures against Moscow.
The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported on
Tuesday the action would include restricting Russian
military flights over American territory.
Man Utd arrive
home looking glum
despite win over
CSKA Moscow
US 'to restrict'
Russian military
flights over region as
tensions soar
RELATED ARTICLES
This was in response to claims Moscow prevented US
observation flights over its heavily militarised Baltic
exclave of Kaliningrad.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday that
Moscow would respond to any new US restrictions.
Ms Zakharova said: “Nobody has cancelled the
principle of reciprocity in international relations.”
Tensions have been high between the two nations
since August when a Russian plane flew over Donald
Trump's holiday destination.
But US officials said there were other violations of the
Open Skies Treaty by Vladimir Putin's army.
A US Department of State Official said Washington
would take "reasonable and comparable measures" to
deal with Russia's alleged non-compliance with the
treaty.
He said: ”We have long had concerns about Russia's
implementation of the Open Skies Treaty. After
repeated, unsuccessful attempts to engage Moscow
diplomatically, we have elected to take some
reasonable and comparable steps in response to
Russia's non-compliance.
“We hope this will change Russia’s calculus and
encourage Russia to engage with us about our
concerns more constructively.
“We’re ready to reverse these measures at any time,
should Russia come back into compliance with its
Open Skies Treaty obligations.”

Tweet