But Russia didn’t just settle with hurting Turkey in it’s pocket. On top of it’s economic measures against Ankara, Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin himself, have now accused Turkey of aiding and abetting ISIS in neighboring Syria, an accusation that has long been leveled at Turkey given it’s failure to bomb the terrorist group even as it bombs the Kurds fighting it. According to The Guardian:
“In response to Russian accusations that Turkey has been buying oil and gas from Islamic State in Syria, Erdoğan said: ‘Shame on you. It’s clear where Turkey buys its oil and gas … Those who claim we are buying oil from Daesh [an Arabic acronym for Isis] like this must prove their claims. Nobody can slander this country.’
Russia has insisted that its plane never strayed from Syrian airspace, while Turkey says it crossed into its airspace for 17 seconds. The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that even if this was the case, shooting the plane down was an extreme over-reaction and looked like a pre-planned provocation.
The plane’s pilot and a marine sent on a rescue mission died. The surviving navigator claimed in an interview with Russian television that he received no audio or visual warning before the plane was shot down. The Turks have released audio recordings of what they say are radio warnings issued to the plane.
The Russia-Turkey spat makes work harder for François Hollande, who held talks with Putin as part of a diplomatic marathon aimed at building a wide-ranging coalition to launch airstrikes against Isis. ‘I’m in Moscow with you to figure out how we can act together in order to coordinate our actions in order to hit this terrorist group and look for political solutions for Syria,’ said Hollande in televised comments before the two presidents retired for talks.”
Additionally, Reuters quotes Erdogan as saying:
“Our pilots and our armed forces, they simply fulfilled their duties, which consisted of responding to … violations of the rules of engagement. I think this is the essence.”
Sources: Reuters, The Guardian
Picture: Valeriy Osipov on Flickr
oh frigging please !!!!!!!!1
Putin should level Turkey !
no
Sure Russia is to blame – it’s always someone elses fault….
Putin is starting to wake up the world to corruption in United Nations and world Goverments every politician in higher seats vying for greed and controll being backed by United Nations.
Urdogan the first president of Isis and Muslim brother hood he is a killer
Bull c**p
Bull c**p, go get them Putin.
shouldn’t WE ALL insist on Mr. Putin’s removal from presidency, with an election for a possble new leader of Russia after Mr. Putin’s long range of presidency….??!!