Moscow notes Washington's “repeated attempts to make a fuss over what has in fact become routine episodes of escorting each others planes,” the ministry said in a statement. It regards this approach as nothing but a desire to “stir up Russophobic sentiments in the media and to accuse Russia of aggressive actions.” Such moves are “hardly compatible” with a genuine aspiration to resolve such issues “in a civilized way,” it added.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry recommended the US to either stop flying military planes near Russian borders or agree on the rules for such flights.

The comments came on Thursday after the US Navy released additional footage, which it said showed an interception of an EP-3 spy plane by a Russian Su-27 fighter jet over the Black Sea. The two sides disagree on whether the Russian pilot acted recklessly during the Monday encounter.

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