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."

Nato forces are carrying out a string of training drills in eastern Europe amid growing fears of an all-out global conflict. Thousands of troops have been deployed near the country's border, angering Russia's president Vladimir Putin. A total of 4,000 alliance troops are littered across Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, all former Soviet satellite states.

GETTY FILE PICTURE The US warplane was detected flying near the Russian border

Russia marks Victory Day Tue, May 9, 2017 The annual parade commemorating the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Play slideshow Peter Kovalev/TASS 1 of 29 A Msta-S self-propelled howitzer rolls down St Petersburg's Palace Square during a Victory Day military parade

We might make progress on this relationship Rex Tillerson

Earlier today, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insisted Washington wanted to rebuild relations with Moscow. Dismissing questions about Trump's alleged links to the Russian government, Tillerson said: "I don't have any direct knowledge of that." He added: "The president's been quite clear with me that we might make progress on this relationship. "I'm really not involved in any of these other issues."

GETTY Donald Trump says he wants to repair relations with Russia