A U.S. warship outfitted with anti-missile technology entered the Black
Sea to join naval maneuvers with Ukraine, triggering an angry reaction
from Russia, which views the development as a potential threat.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey is an integral part of U.S. plans to create a missile shield in Europe, which Russia opposes.
"We have a number of questions regarding the arrival in the Black Sea of the U.S. Navy cruiser Monterey equipped with the Aegis antimissile system to participate in the Ukrainian-U.S. Sea Breeze 2011 exercises," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that we will not let pass unnoticed the appearance of elements of U.S. strategic infrastructure in the immediate proximity to our borders and will see such steps as a threat to our security," the ministry added. The Kremlin remains at odds with the United States and NATO over their plans to erect a ballistic missile shield in Europe that Moscow has said could directly undermine Russian strategic forces once it is complete.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey is an integral part of U.S. plans to create a missile shield in Europe, which Russia opposes.
"We have a number of questions regarding the arrival in the Black Sea of the U.S. Navy cruiser Monterey equipped with the Aegis antimissile system to participate in the Ukrainian-U.S. Sea Breeze 2011 exercises," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that we will not let pass unnoticed the appearance of elements of U.S. strategic infrastructure in the immediate proximity to our borders and will see such steps as a threat to our security," the ministry added. The Kremlin remains at odds with the United States and NATO over their plans to erect a ballistic missile shield in Europe that Moscow has said could directly undermine Russian strategic forces once it is complete.