ARKHANGELSK. March 30 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the North Atlantic Alliance, or NATO, of abandoning the idea of forcing the bloc's military planes to fly over the Baltic Sea only with their transponders switched on, and recalled that Russia had earlier announced readiness to uphold the proposal.
In an address at the International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk, Putin recalled that he had earlier promised to the Finnish president, who raised the question of the security of flights over the Baltic Sea, that "Russia will come up with the initiative that all the powers pursuing military activities in the Baltic Sea region, must use transponders [and switch them on during flights]".
"We announced that we are ready for that," Putin said.
"The relevant meeting was held in Brussels and we heard the answer: "No. The NATO countries won't do that," Putin said.