Incident with US drone shot down by Russia signals Putin's readiness to expand the conflict - Ukraine’s NSDC Secretary Danilov

This opinion was expressed by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksiy Danilov.

"The incident with the American MQ-9 Reaper drone, provoked by Russia in the Black Sea, is Putin's signal of readiness to expand the conflict zone with the involvement of other parties. The all-in tactic is a constant increase in stakes under conditions of strategic defeat in the hope of changing circumstances," he wrote.

The incident with the American MQ-9 Reaper UAV, provoked by russia in the Black Sea, is putin’s signal of readiness to expand the conflict zone with the involvement of other parties.

— Oleksiy Danilov (@OleksiyDanilov) March 15, 2023

• On March 14, in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The drone was shot down as a result of the incident. After the incident, the United States began negotiations with Russia at the "highest level" and summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington.

• Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said after the incident with the US drone that Moscow does not want a confrontation with the United States, but "American aircraft have no business being near the Russian border."