Russia will move its planned military drills outside Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) following a request from the Irish government, officials from both countries have confirmed. The planned artillery drills caused considerable controversy in Ireland after it emerged they were slated to take place in early February about 150 miles in international waters off Ireland’s southwest coast within its airspace and exclusive economic zone. Irish fishermen had planned to travel to the area to disrupt the Russian naval plans in a bid to protect their fishing stock. Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said on Jan. 29 that he has received assurances from his Russian counterpart that the drills will be relocated. Coveney wrote on Twitter: “This week I wrote to my counterpart, the Minister of Defence of Russia, to request a reconsideration of naval exercises off the Irish coast. This evening I received a letter confirming the Russian exercises …