Editor's note: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the U.S.S. Truxtun had entered the Black Sea.
WASHINGTON -- A U.S. Navy destroyer was en route to the Black Sea on Thursday - but it had nothing to do with tension in Ukraine, Pentagon officials said.
The U.S.S. Truxtun was due to take part in a pre-planned exercise involving Romanian and Bulgarian vessels.
Pro-Russian forces effectively took control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in the wake of last month's ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Moscow has denied any role in the apparent occupation. After a meeting with his Russian counterpart Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. had "agreed to continue intense discussions in the coming days with Russia."
