The White House said that the United States would continue flying over the Black Sea.

The United States will continue flying over the Black Sea despite an air incident with a Russian SU-27 and an American UAV, said John Kirby, White House strategic communications coordinator.

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“We’ve been flying over this airspace for a year, we’ll continue to do so, and we don’t need confirmation from Russia to fly over international waters,” Kirby told reporters.

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Kirby did not speak about whether the Russian Federation wanted to send a message to the US through its actions. “If they want to send a message about their desire to keep us from flying over the Black Sea, this will not happen,” the White House spokesman said.

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Kirby stressed that American aircraft operate over the international waters of the Black Sea and will continue to do so for the sake of US national security.

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The European Command of the US Armed Forces previously issued a message claiming that a Russian Su-27 collided over the Black Sea with an American MQ-9 drone, the UAV fell into international waters. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident.