Russian jets in repeated 'aggressive' passes of US warship

Washington (AFP) - A Russian military jet came within 30 feet of a US destroyer in international waters in the Baltic Sea, US officials say, but Russia on Thursday defended the maneuver as safe.

Russian aircraft repeatedly buzzed the USS Donald Cook this week, including an incident Tuesday in which a Russian Su-24 flew 30 feet (nine meters) above the ship in a "simulated attack profile," the US military's European Command said.

"We have deep concerns about the unsafe and unprofessional Russian flight maneuvers," EUCOM said in a statement.

"These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries and could result in a miscalculation."

Ties between Russia and the West have plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War over Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and its support for separatist rebels in the east of the country.

Russia countered saying it was stunned by Washington's reaction to the fly-by incident.

Su-24 planes were conducting test flights in the area and "having observed the ship, turned away in observance of all safety measures," Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement posted on the ministry's Facebook page.