U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer U.S.S. Ross sails in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, April 14, 2019. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. destroyer U.S.S. Ross conducted a joint naval exercise with Turkish vessels and aircraft in the Black Sea on Saturday, the U.S. Navy said in a statement on Monday.

The statement noted that the U.S. Navy routinely practices with allies and partners in the Black Sea, thereby enhancing regional maritime stability, combined readiness and naval capability.

Earlier this month, NATO foreign ministers in Washington agreed on a series of measures to counter Russia in the Black Sea region.

Five NATO warships took part in an annual Romania-led naval exercise Sea Shield 2019 in the Black Sea, which ended in mid-April.

In response, Russia's Black Sea Fleet conducted a series of drills parallel to the Sea Shield 2019.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said earlier that NATO had "gone too far" in forging confrontation with Russia.