Putin says Turkey “will regret” shooting down Russian bomber

“We are not that dishonest as to buy oil from terrorists”. “If there is a request to do something we will always be there to offer our assistance…”

Turkey has become Moscow’s prime global sparring partner after it shot down a Russian jet on its border with Syria on November 24 – sparking fury in Russia and economic sanctions from the Kremlin.

Russia’s top generals yesterday accused Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, and his family of personal involvement in a multi-million dollar oil-smuggling operation that is funding terrorists from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Russian Federation has halted the sale of holiday tours to Turkey – a key tourist destination – and is set to ban the import of Turkish fruit and vegetables, as well as threatening other measures.

“We will not rattle our sabers. But if someone thinks that after committing heinous war crimes, the murder of our people, it will end with tomatoes and limitations in construction and other fields, then they are deeply mistaken”, Putin said.

“We shall remind them many a time what they have done and they will more than once feel regret what they have done”.

Accusing Moscow of reacting in an “emotional” way, he said there was “no question” of Turkey retaliating against Russian citizens living in Turkey.

“And evidently Allah chose to punish the ruling clique in Turkey, by depriving it of any reason or logic”.

Erdogan, who vehemently denies the allegation, has said he would resign if the accusations against him are proven.

“We rejected the claim that Turkey is working alongside ISIS. They should know that we do not equate them and part of the current Turkish leadership, which holds a direct responsibility for the deaths of our troops in Syria”, Putin said.

Erdogan wasn’t almost content with just dismissing the allegations and ignoring the evidence, claiming Russian Federation is secretly the one buying ISIS oil, and also claiming to have secret proof.

“The immoral side of this issue is involving my family in the affair”, Erdogan added. “But those who make the claim must also give up their seat if they can’t prove it”.

He earlier said Turkey would not retaliate against Russia’s “emotional” sanctions imposed after the plane attack.

“Influential countries in the global coalition are more determined to fight [Daesh]”, said Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in comments during a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.

This would allow Russian Federation to achieve its goal of delivering gas to Europe while avoiding Ukraine.