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The Kremlin said the US warplane was detected flying over neutral waters near the Russian border at around 8am UK time.

The Su-27, which is part of the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet air defence patrol, returned to its airfield after carrying out the operation.

A spokesman said: "The crew of the Russian Su-27, in approaching the aerial object at a safe distance, identified it as a US B-52 strategic bomber and escorted it."