White House says drone incident will not prevent US from flying over Black Sea

This was stated by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, the Associated Press reports.

He emphasized that if Russia wants to prevent the US from flying over the Black Sea, it will not succeed.

"We’re going to continue to fly and operate in international airspace over international waters. The Black Sea belongs to no one nation," Kirby said.

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

• Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said after the incident with the downing of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea that Moscow does not want a confrontation with the US, but "American aircraft have no business near the Russian border."