Politics

US Flies ‘Extraordinary’ Mission Over Ukraine In Big Show Against Russia

GRANSEE, GERMANY - AUGUST 18: Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured) give statements to the media prior to talks at Schloss Meseberg palace, the German government retreat, at Meseberg on August 18, 2018 near Gransee, Germany. The two leaders are meeting to dicuss a variety of issues, including the current international sanctions imposed on Russia, the situation in Syria as well as the situation in eastern Ukraine. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images). US President Donald Trump speaks about his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a meeting with Republican lawmakers and cabinet members on tax cuts at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2018. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP) (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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The U.S. military conducted an extraordinary flight over Ukraine in a major show of force against the Russian government amid tensions in the region, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.

Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, pauses as he speaks during the plenary panel at the annual VTB Capital 'Russia Calling' Forum in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The timing for a conference catering to foreign money is inauspicious, with investors jittery following the Russian navy firing on Ukrainian warships near Crimea last weekend.  Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, pauses as he speaks during the plenary panel at the annual VTB Capital ‘Russia Calling’ Forum in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The timing for a conference catering to foreign money is inauspicious, with investors jittery following the Russian navy firing on Ukrainian warships near Crimea last weekend.  Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“Today the United States and Allies conducted an extraordinary flight under the Open Skies Treaty. The timing of this flight is intended to reaffirm U.S. commitment to Ukraine and other partner nations, DOD said. “Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea near the Kerch strait is a dangerous escalation in a pattern of increasingly provocative and threatening activity.”

DOD declared “the United States seeks a better relationship with Russia, but this cannot happen while its unlawful and destabilizing actions continue in Ukraine and elsewhere.” (RELATED: Trump Cancels Putin Meeting)

US President Donald Trump (C) shakes hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin next to US First Lady Melania Trump (L) ahead a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. – The US and Russian leaders opened an historic summit in Helsinki, with Donald Trump promising an “extraordinary relationship” and Vladimir Putin saying it was high time to thrash out disputes around the world. (Photo by Alexey NIKOLSKY / Sputnik / AFP) 

The major U.S. flight over Ukraine comes after President Donald Trump canceled a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 over the tensions in Ukraine. The tensions came after Russia opened fire on a Ukrainian vessel at sea in disputed waters recently, wounding three sailors. Russia subsequently seized three Ukrainian ships in the area and claimed that the vessels were in violation of its territory.

The president said he was “not happy” with Putin’s decision and later said in a formal statement:

Russia, Ukraine and the West have been engaged in a years-long conflict over the Crimean Peninsula. Russia claimed to annex the Ukrainian territory in 2014, drawing widespread criticism for violating flagrantly violating international norms. Significant western sanctions have been placed on Russia for the annexation.