Tensions between Russia and Turkey continue to grow

Russia has threatened wide-ranging economic sanctions against Turkey over its downing of a Russian fighter jet the Russians say was flying over Syria.

Tensions between Russia and Turkey continue to growTensions between Russia and Turkey continue to grow

Tensions between Russia and Turkey continue to grow

The shooting down of the warplane is seen as one of the most serious clashes ever between a NATO member and Russia.

International leaders are urging both sides to avoid escalation, but Russia says it is still awaiting a reasonable explanation for the incident.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia did not expect the attack.

 

"We believed Turkey to be a friendly state, and we did not expect any attack from them. For this reason, we believe this to be a traitor attack."

 

Turkey's military says it did not know the warplane it shot down -- on the Turkish side of the border, it insists -- was Russian.

But Mr Putin has dismissed those claims.

 

"In relation to our aircraft that were allegedly not identified, it's ... it's not possible, it's not possible. It's got insignia, and you could see it very clearly. These are our planes, and you could see that very clearly. And I would like to also reiterate that, in advance, in accordance with our agreement with the US, we gave information where our planes will be working, at what altitude and what areas, and Turkey's part of that coalition. And they had to know that it was the Russian air force that was working in that area."

 

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told CNN Turkey will not apologise for the incident.

 

"Well, I think, if there's a party that needs to apologise, it's not us. Those who violated our airspace are the ones who need to apologise. Our pilots and our armed forces, they simply fulfilled their duties, which consisted of responding to a violation of the rules of engagement. I think this is the essence."

 

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered his government to draw up measures which would include freezing some joint investment projects.

And it would include restricting food imports from Turkey.

Mr Erdogan says the move would have an impact.

 

"We have a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, a partnership of great importance. And in 2014, for instance, we actually increased our bilateral-trade volume by up to $US35 billion. And right now, of course, in terms of oil and natural gas, we are a primary customer of Russia. We're buying oil and natural gas from Russia. We have this kind of a connection. And at the time when everyone else was imposing sanctions on Russia, in terms of foodstuff, we did not pursue them."

 

The incident has further complicated international efforts to battle the self-proclaimed Islamic State, or I-S, in Syria and Iraq.

Russia has accused Turkey of buying oil and gas from IS in Syria.

Turkey has accused Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his supporters, which include Russia, of being the real source of the group's financial and military power.

Speaking after talks with President Putin, French president Francois Hollande says the focus needs to remain on defeating IS, or Daesh.

 

"It's a serious incident, and, of course, it's regrettable. I have spoken to President Erdogan and also President Putin about it, and the main thing in all of this is that we must avoid any risk of any further incident and stop the situation from escalating. The only objective which we should all have is to combat Daesh and neutralise the terrorists. No other."

 






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Tensions between Russia and Turkey continue to grow | SBS News