US To Restrict Russian ‘Open Skies’ Flights As Treaty Grows Strained

A Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-214ON at Ramenskoye Airport in August, 2011. Russia flies the plane over military installations in United States under the Open Skies treaty meant to build trust and maintain transparency between Cold War opponents. The treaty comes under new strains as the United States imposes restrictions on Russia, alleging the Russian Federation has not met its compliance obligations under the treaty. Oleg Belyakov/Wikimedia Commons

Russian spy planes once welcomed to fly over U.S. military installations are set to face new restrictions as a treaty meant to build trust between Cold War enemies comes under strain.

A State Department official told the Epoch Times the United States has “long had concerns about Russia’s implementation of the Open Skies Treaty.”