Hours before Erdogan’s remarks, Putin accused Turkey of downing the Russian warplane last week in order to protect its oil trade with the Islamic State group in Syria. Washington and its allies fear the Turkey-Russia stand-off could undercut efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria, where Moscow backs long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad and Ankara the rebels seeking to oust him.
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And Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg urged Turkey and Russian Federation to find a way to avoid a repeat of the jet incident, which threatens to scupper efforts to forge a common anti-Daesh front in the wake of attacks in Paris claimed by the group that left 130 dead.
In addition to the sanctions, the Russian government also announced that charter flights between Russia and Turkey will be cancelled as of December 1.
Russian Federation on Monday laid out more details of retaliatory economic sanctions aimed at denting Turkey’s key tourism and agricultural sectors. Obama’s relationship with Putin is tense but direct. His relationship with Erdogan, whom he referred to by first name, is also not close, though the two men are in contact frequently.
At the same time, Obama said Turkey had a right to defend itself.
The former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to prop up a pro-Moscow government, but had to withdraw a decade later after failing to beat Afghan guerrillas. “I don’t expect that you’re going to see a 180 turn on their strategy over the next several weeks”, Mr Obama said.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called for the opening of communication channels between Turkey and Russian Federation to prevent further incidents like the downing of the warplane.
“We have received additional information which unfortunately confirms that this oil, produced in areas controlled by Isil and other terrorist organisations, is transported on an industrial scale to Turkey”.
The Turkish leader said: “The tensions in the region sadden us”.
But, he added, if the allegations are untrue, then Russian President Vladimir Putin should resign.
Mr Erdogan has refused to apologise for the shooting down of the Russian jet, though he said on Saturday that he was “saddened” that it had taken place.
The list of foods banned from next year included fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, grapes, apricots and apples, as well as chicken products and salt.
Also on Tuesday, the ministry of education and science said it was curtailing cooperation with Turkey’s universities and planned shortly to repatriate all Russian students in the near future.
Separately, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said he was “prepared to expand” the role of special operations troops fighting IS in Syria and Iraq where the jihadist group has seized huge swathes of territory and lucrative oil fields it uses to fund its deadly activities.
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“We don’t want to invest in tensions”.
