Russia says it respected all safety rules in passes near US warship

The Interfax news agency has quoted a Russian spokesman as saying the Russian bombers respected all safety rules when they flew near a US warship.

In this Tuesday, April 12, 2016 photo provided by the U Navy, a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft makes a low altitude pass by the USS Donald Cook. Source: AAP

The crews of the Russian Su-24 bombers which flew near a US guided missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday respected all safety rules, Interfax news agency quoted Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying on Thursday.

The US military said that the warplanes had simulated attack passes near the USS Donald Cook, with one official describing them as one of the most aggressive interactions in recent memory.