Putin stages naval drills off of IRELAND: Dublin condemns 'unwelcome' Russian operation planned for next month as fears grow over war in Europe
Russia will hold live-fire naval drills off the coast of Ireland next month, Moscow has announced amid escalating tensions with the West.
Battleships will take part in sea drills around 150 miles off Ireland's southwest coast, within the country's 'exclusive economic zone' but outside territorial waters.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Monday that the drills are allowed under international law and that his country 'doesn't have the power to stop this from happening' - but added that Russia's presence in its waters is 'not welcome'.
The drill will form part of much broader Russian naval exercises involving 140 ships, 60 aircraft and 10,000 troops from all of its naval fleets that will take place in the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, North Sea and Sea of Okhotsk.
It also comes against the backdrop of Russia's troop build-up on the border of Ukraine, which has sparked fears of an invasion and war in Europe.
As the UK and US began withdrawing diplomatic staff from their embassies in Ukraine today, European foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss security issues with the aim of putting on a united front over Russia.
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