The National Defense Management Center reported that on December 9, Russian Su-27 fighter jets escorted French and US warplanes during their flight over that region.

It further noted that on December 10, a Russian Air and Space Force Su-30 fighter jet escorted a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the need to halt the deployment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the east, in a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Also on December 7, the President denounced the expansion of the Atlantic Alliance to the East, the militarization of neighboring countries and the dangers it poses to global security, during a meeting with his US counterpart, Joe Biden.

pgh/iff/oda/mml