American officials drew attention to the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possible involvement of the United States in the incident with the British destroyer Defender, said Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov.
During the direct line, which took place on June 30, Putin said that the United States took part in a provocation in the Black Sea with the participation of the British destroyer Defender: before the ship entered Russian territorial waters, an American reconnaissance aircraft took off from one of the NATO airfields.
Anton noted that senior officials in the White House and the State Department provided links to Putin’s speech, but Washington did not publicly admit its involvement in the incident with the British destroyer.
“But I am firmly convinced that the relevant services paid attention to the words of Vladimir Vladimirovich. I can say that when I visited both the White House and the State Department, my colleagues, high-ranking officials gave references to the speech of our president […] I would say this: the signal was read. It is considered by the relevant departments, it is being analyzed”, the diplomat said on the air of the Soloviev Live YouTube channel.
On June 23, British Navy destroyer Defender violated the Russian border in the Black Sea near Cape Fiolent. The Black Sea Fleet, together with the Border Guard Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation, stopped the violation. The Russian
Defense Ministry stressed that the actions of the warship violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Anatoly Antonov