Russian Federation has demanded an apology for the shooting down of its bomber over the Turkish border with Syria on Tuesday.
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“We have been telling our Russian friends that their bombardments against civilians on our border is creating new waves of refugees which do not go to Russia or to any other country but coming to Turkey”, he said.
Russia will restrict imports of Turkish fruit and vegetables as part of a package of new sanctions following the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey last week.
Obama, who meets briefly with Putin on the sidelines of global climate talks outside Paris, expresses regret for the death of a Russian pilot and crew member in that incident, according to the White House.
Asked if he would continue to press for a meeting, he said: “Even if it is just a piece of string remaining… we don’t want ties to be cut”.
Erdogan also dismissed as “unacceptable and immoral” Putin’s repeated allegation that Turkey purchases oil from Islamic State and demanded the Russian side show documents to prove the charge. “How Russia will proceed, I can not know”.
Russian clubs have been banned from signing Turkish players during the January transfer window as a result of the current political tensions between the two nations.
“Russia has not given permission to Turkish trucks for entry or transit passage for the past four days”, Fatih Sener, managing director of Turkey’s International Shippers Association (UND) said in an interview.
Erdogan is among Assad’s most outspoken critics, and Russia’s bombardment of certain opposition groups in Syria has put Ankara and Moscow at odds. Erdogan has said Turkey will not apologise for the downing of the plane.
Russia’s air force said Su-24 jets – of the type shot down near the Syrian border last week – have flown with an air-to-air weapons system for the first time.
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Russian Federation began airstrikes in Syria on September 30 that it says are focused on IS fighters.
