US authorities are willing to maintain a direct line of communication with Russian leadership to minimize the risk of escalation due to the downing of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced this.
“Clearly, we do not seek armed conflict with Russia. We maintain direct lines of communication for reasons like this to minimize risk of escalation,” said Jean-Pierre, referring to the question of the possible deterioration of Russian-American relations.
She added: “And we will continue to exercise our rights in international airspace.”
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator of the US National Security Council, also stated that Washington is against the aviation restrictions imposed by Russia on the Black Sea, adding that the US will continue flights in that area. According to Kirby, the US does not want the drone to end up in the hands of any other country.
Earlier, US and Russian Defense Ministers Lloyd Austin and Sergey Shoigu, as well as Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and Valery Gerasimov had two telephone conversations regarding the incident.
