WASHINGTON (AP) — An unarmed U. S. Air Force plane with American and international observers flew a special flight over Ukraine Thursday in a show…
WASHINGTON (AP) — An unarmed U. S. Air Force plane with American and international observers flew a special flight over Ukraine Thursday in a show of solidarity after Ukraine’s naval confrontation last month with Russia in the Black Sea, the Pentagon said.
In a statement, the Pentagon called it an “extraordinary” flight under the Open Skies Treaty, which is an international accord that gives each member country the right to conduct, and the obligation to accept, unarmed military observation flights. The purpose to is promote transparency in military activities.
Normally these flights are arranged well in advance. But the treaty also permits “extraordinary,” or extra, flights if two participating members agree. In this case, the Ukrainian military requested a flight and the U. S. agreed to conduct it over an uncontested portion of Ukraine territory, according to Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman.
