Putin Approves Economic Sanctions Against Turkey

Mr Erdogan’s friendly overture however, came after he again vigorously defended Turkey’s action and criticised Russian Federation for its operations in Syria.

Russia has announced a package of economic sanctions against Turkey in retaliation for the shooting down of a Russian jet four days earlier on the Syrian-Turkish border.

World leaders have urged the two sides to lower tensions, with many expressing concern that it could harm efforts to fight the Islamic State group and derail a fresh diplomatic push to broker a Syria peace deal.

Addressing supporters in the western city of Balikesir, Mr Erdogan said neither country should allow the incident to escalate and take a destructive form that would lead to “saddening consequences”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has angrily rebuffed the Kremlin’s demand for an apology and said Putin snubbed a phone call from him after the incident.

Putin dismissed as “rubbish” Turkey’s claim that it would not have shot down the warplane if it had known it was Russian.

Speaking with French President François Hollande, Putin said the USA and Russian Federation would need to have “serious consultations” concerning the warplane matter, according to the Associated Press.

The pilot, Lt. Col. Oleg Peshkov, received Orthodox funeral rites, at Russia’s request, and his body will be returned to Russia, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Sunday.

“There was a slight intrusion a mile deep by a Russian plane from Syria into our airspace, but it was immediately resolved and the Russian plane returned towards Syria”, he said.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday it was issuing the warning because Turkish travelers were facing “problems” in Russian Federation. The body of the Russian will be prepared in accordance with tradition before being given to Moscow, Xinhua quoted Davutoglu as saying in Ankara before his departure for the EU-Turkey Summit.

The Turkish president had on Friday warned Russian Federation “not to play with fire”, in reference to Moscow’s potential retaliatory moves over the incident, which may include an array of economic and military sanctions.

On Friday Russia suspended its visa-free arrangement with Turkey.