Russia warns US to stop flying near its borders or agree rules

MOSCOW, Feb 1 (KUNA) -- Russia on Thursday urged the US to either halt military jet maneuvers near its borders or negotiate an agreement for rules on such actions after the US complained again about a Russian jet flying too close to its patrolling warplanes and warships.
The announcement was made after the Pentagon accused a Russian Su-27 fighter of flying recklessly close to a US Navy EP-3 spy plane over the Black Sea on Monday, a point that Russia vehemently denies.
In a statement, Russia's Defence Ministry said its pilot's actions were "standard, absolutely legal and perfectly safe for the American surveillance plane." "When NATO fighter jets conduct similar maneuvers towards Russian military planes on patrol over the Baltic, the Barents, the Norwegian, the North or any other sea, they do not affect the Russian crews in the slightest way," it added. (end) as.sd