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KERCH STRAIT PROVOCATION

US not discussing military response to Kerch Strait incident — general

"Obviously my job in uniform is to make sure that the President has options available, should he decide to respond with military force," he added.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford

© AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

WASHINGTON, December 7. /TASS/. The United States has not been discussing the possibility of a military response to the recent incident in the Kerch Strait, in which Russia had to detain three Ukrainian warships for violating its border, the US highest-ranking military officer said on Thursday.

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"There has been no military response... not has been a discussion about a military response," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford told reporters at a conference organized by The Washington Post.

"There is not a discussion ongoing right now in the military dimension in response to Sea of Azov. Obviously my job in uniform is to make sure that the President has options available, should he decide to respond with military force," he added.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on November 25 that the Ukrainian warships, the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yany Kapu, had breached the Russian state border on Sunday morning and attempted to carry out illegal maneuvers in Russia’s territorial waters later. The Ukrainian vessels ignored the legitimate demands of the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet to stop immediately and end their dangerous action. The Ukrainian warships carried on, blatantly disregarding these orders, which triggered a chase involving some gunfire to stop them. Consequently, the ships were detained in Russian territorial waters.

After the incident, the Kiev government accused Russia of blocking Azov Sea ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. Russian authorities denied the reports, saying they never prohibited the navigation of ships via the Kerch Strait.

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Washington has no plans of updating nuclear posture after Russia’s test of new missile

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US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

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Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

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West builds up military presence near Russia’s Arctic borders — presidential aide

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Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

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NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

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Oreshnik missile to go into serial production, Putin says

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Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

Zelensky’s actions make Ukraine vulnerable to coup, says politician

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Russia hit Ukrainian military-industrial facility in response to use of Western missiles

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Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

It is reported that the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has acquired elements of global nature

US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

The former Austrian foreign minister stressed that she "counted on rational Western decision-makers, but irrationality is unfortunately on the rise among them"

Kremlin confident Putin's statement got through to US administration

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Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

Western nations should take Putin's statement seriously, warns Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

German politician slams Ukraine’s ‘irresponsible’ strike on Russia with UK-made missiles

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Western countries should 'be afraid, tremble' after Putin's statement — lawmaker

Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

China urges restraint after Russia, Ukraine's exchange of attacks — foreign ministry

Lin Jian also reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Ukrainian issue

Putin says Oreshnik missile system cutting-edge innovation by Russia, not Soviet byproduct

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier in the day that the country’s latest Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile hit all the targets at a major Ukrainian military-industrial enterprise in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk) with its MIRVed warheads

NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

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