Moscow warns US military over submarine violating Russian waters

Russia’s Defense Ministry has handed a protest note to the American military attaché in Moscow after a US submarine was spotted near the Kuril Islands where a Russian fleet was engaged in naval drills.

"On February 12, a representative of the US embassy's military attaché office for defense issues was handed over a note at the Russian defense ministry's main directorate of international military cooperation in Moscow in relation to the violation of Russia's state border by a US navy submarine," the ministry stated on Saturday as quoted in report by Sputnik News.

The report further cited the ministry as adding that the American sub’s provocative behavior posed a threat to Russian security, insisting that Russia reserves the right to use any means necessary to ensure the country’s security in its territorial waters.

It further warned that the US must prevent reoccurrence of such incidents in the future.

According to the report, Moscow announced earlier on Saturday that a US submarine was discovered at 10:40 Moscow time near one of the Kuril Islands of Urup, noting that the Virginia-class submarine entered an area where the Russian Pacific Fleet was conducting its scheduled exercises.

The American submarine, the ministry further explained, initially ignored warnings by Russian Marshall Shaposhnikov frigate – communicated in both Russian and English -- to immediately come up to the surface.

However, it quickly left the area when confronted by “relevant methods” used by the crew of the Russian warship in line with the guidance for underwater protection of national borders, the ministry added.

The incident occurred amid intensifying tensions between Moscow and the US-led NATO military alliance over what the Western allies allege to be a looming Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Russia, however, has repeatedly denied the US-led speculations about its plans to attack any country, insisting that the persisting Western publicity campaign about the potential “Russian threat” will only hamper diplomatic efforts to avert any further escalation of tensions and a potential conflict.

The development coincided with yet another threat communicated by US President Joe Biden to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a video call on Saturday, reiterating that Washington and its allies would respond “decisively” if Russia invades Ukraine. 

Biden warns Putin of ‘severe costs’ of Ukraine invasion

US President Joe Biden has told Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Washington and its allies would respond “decisively” if Russia invades Ukraine.

Biden’s repeated threat came amid Moscow's continued warnings that allegations of a Russian invasion of Ukraine were merely a US-led anti-Russia propaganda aimed at provoking a conflict.

Moscow, however, said Washington was waging a "propaganda campaign" against Russia while implementing a provocative plan of action with the aim of triggering a conflict over the eastern Ukraine crisis.

Responding to Biden’s latest anti-Russia threat, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of seeking to provoke a conflict in Ukraine and waging a "propaganda campaign" against Moscow.

He made the remarks during a phone conversation with his American counterpart Antony Blinken on Saturday, further insisting, "The propaganda campaign unleashed by the United States and its allies concerning 'Russian aggression' against Ukraine pursues provocative goals."

Russia says US seeking to provoke Ukraine conflict

Foreign Minister Lavrov has accused the US of seeking to provoke a conflict in Ukraine.

Lavrov also noted the “propaganda campaign” about “Russian aggression” has encouraged the authorities in Kiev "to sabotage the Minsk agreements and harm attempts to resolve the Donbass problem" in eastern Ukraine by force, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He then reiterated that the West had ignored Russia’s key demands in the Ukraine standoff, the ministry added. "It was emphasized that these issues will be at the center of our assessment of the documents received from the US and NATO."

The Biden administration has been spearheading efforts to build a united front against Russia, but the attempts have been wrought with divisions among the European allies and partisan bickering at home. 

American and Russian diplomats held talks to resolve the crisis over Ukraine in January but failed to make a breakthrough. However, they agreed to continue the talks.

Russia has demanded legally binding guarantees from NATO that it will halt its eastward expansion and return to its 1997 borders. Moscow also demanded that the military alliance never admit Ukraine as a member.

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