Black Sea

Mikhail Popov, deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, told "Rossiyskaya" Gazeta that NATO members were provoking Russia.

"Imagine a situation where Russia conducts drills in the Gulf of Mexico. This would have sparked a storm of indignation in the US," Moscow's embassy in Washington told Newsweek.

"U.S. Sixth Fleet along with Allies and partners will continue to conduct routine operations in international waters and airspace, ensuring freedom of navigation and uninhibited maritime trade across the global commons," a U.S. 6th Fleet spokesperson told Newsweek.

A U.S. Sixth Fleet spokesperson told Newsweek that Russia is "acting unilaterally as an aggressive nation" in the Black Sea region.

Russia's top diplomat Sergey Lavrov told Indonesian media the U.S had warned and outlined demands to Moscow since the Putin-Biden summit.

Ongoing confrontations between NATO and Russian forces in recent weeks have prompted fears of a sudden, violent escalation.

Dmytro Kuleba told Newsweek that Ukraine is urging NATO nations not to repeat past mistakes and allow Moscow to expand its presence in the Black Sea.

The Russian president said he wishes for a successor who is capable of leading a "wonderful country like Russia."

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned of "negative consequences," two weeks on from the Putin-Biden summit.

Claims come days after a Black Sea spat between Moscow and London over the British Navy ship HMS Defender.

The Kremlin achieved its goal in promoting the narrative that Russia is capable of seeing off hostile foreign threats.

Deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow would take action to protect its borders. "Those who try to test our strength are taking great risks," he added.

"The moves by warships of the U.S. and its allies have been clearly provocative," the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces said.

Russia's increased military presence at the Ukraine border has raised concerns for NATO, but the military organization denied recent exercises are aimed at Russia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the U.S.'s commitment to Ukraine during his one-day visit to Kyiv.

Russia's Defense Ministry tweeted footage of a Black Sea Fleet warship firing a Vulkan missile.

Russia's defense minister on Tuesday declared that the U.S. has employed "provocative actions" in the Black Sea amid escalating tensions with Ukraine.

The Navy released a video of the Su-24 bomber buzzing the USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea on Sunday.

To keep Russia and Iran in check, NATO now more than ever needs to develop and pursue a comprehensive strategy for the Black Sea. Georgia is key to the region.

Russia has long expressed concern that its neighbors could become NATO members and that such developments could spark war.

"We call for calm and restraint. Russia must release the Ukrainian sailors and ships," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

The S-400 system is considered the most advanced in the world.

The men were captured during a violent confrontation with Russian navy ships on Sunday.

The Su-27 jet fighter conducted a high-speed pass, putting U.S. pilots and crew at risk, the Navy said.

Russia's bridge to annexed Crimea means any ships sailing to Ukraine's Azov coastline must clear a checkpoint controlled by Moscow.

U.S. air presence over the Black Sea angered Moscow.

The bridge restricts Ukrainian access to the Black Sea.

The country's armed forces have rallied 8,000 troops for the drills across 19 training ranges, including two breakaway regions in neighboring Georgia.

Europe's southeastern sea was once dominated by the Soviet Union but now has three NATO allies and two NATO aspiring members on it.

The Black Sea is fascinating to archaeologists because its zero-oxygen "dead zone" preserves shipwrecks and artifacts for thousands of years.