(Interfax) - The Russian strategic aviation will continue its exercises, but this does not imply confrontation with the West, President Vladimir Putin told a Thursday press conference in
Moscow.
"We do not intend confrontation. I hope that will never happen," he said.
The flights of Russian strategic aircraft "mirror the growing potential of our armed forces," he said.
"We will continue to train our pilots and upgrade our military hardware, including aircraft. How could we do that without flights? Certainly, we will carry them on," Putin said.