Russia: U.S. destroyer got too close to its ships in Europe
The Russian defense ministry has accused a U.S. Navy ship of sailing dangerously close to its vessels in the Mediterranean Sea.
The ministry says June 28 in comments carried by the Interfax news agency that the destroyer USS Gravely passed a Russian combat ship dangerously close earlier this month in the eastern section of the Mediterranean and cut in front of a Russian frigate. The ministry insisted the Russian vessels were in international waters and did not perform any dangerous maneuvers regarding the American ship.
U.S. officials have repeatedly complained about Russian military jets and vessels buzzing and sailing too close to their planes and vessels, calling it dangerous and unprofessional behavior. AP
Kremlin says it will take time to mend ties with Turkey
The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says it will take time to mend ties with Turkey after the November downing of a Russian military jet.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter of formal apology to Putin June 27, seven months after Turkey shot down the Russian jet on a mission in Syria, triggering a slew of Russian sanctions that have dealt a severe blow to the Turkish economy.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday called the apology “a very important” step but added that the ties between the two countries would not go back to where they were overnight.
Both Russia and Turkey will need to “take more than one step to meet each other,” he said. AP