Tragedy with Russian Su-24 downed in Syria to have serious consequences for Moscow-Ankara relations, Vladimir Putin stated.
This tragic event will have serious consequences for Russian-Turkish relations. We have always regarded Turkey not only as a close neighbor, but also as a friendly state. I dont know who needed what was done today, but we didnt in any case, Putin said during a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Sochi.
Russia's president stated that the incident with Su-24 in Syria is beyond regular war against terrorism.
"Instead of contacting us immediately Turkey addressed their NATO partners as if it was us who downed their plane, not vice versa," Putin said.
"Our jet fell six kilometers away from the border, within Syrian arispace."
A Russian Su-24 was shot down over Syria on Tuesday, according to reports from the Russian Defense Ministry. The two pilots were able to eject from the plane, although their current fate is unknown.