Turkey has alternatives to Russian oil, gas: Erdogan

Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, said: “Putin’s speech echoed statements by US President George Bush after the September 11, 2001, attacks”.

The decree, which entered into force last week, banned imports of some Turkish foodstuffs, canceled charter flights from Russian Federation to Turkey, ordered tour firms not to sell any holidays in Turkey and halted or curbed the economic activities of Turkish firms and nationals in Russian Federation. The militants shot and killed the downed plane’s pilot while he was descending on parachute and also killed a Russian marine who was involved in rescuing the plane’s co-pilot.

“I don’t believe that there is significant smuggling, between ISIL-controlled areas and Turkey of oil in any significance in volume”, Hochstein said yesterday, using an alternative name for IS.

As more economic sanctions were brought to bear in Moscow, the president said: “If anyone thinks, after this war crime, murdering our people, that they’ll get off with measures hitting their tomato exports or curbs on construction and other sectors, they are mistaken”.

“We are not planning to engage in military sabre-rattling (with Turkey)”, said Putin, after asking for a moment’s silence for the two Russian servicemen killed in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and for Russian victims of terrorism. “He seemed to be escalating the war of words with Turkey and other Russian Federation detractors in Europe and the Middle East”.

“Notably his emphasis on terrorism and fighting terrorism in a world full of terrorism, underlines the attack on Russian values, and makes it clear the likes of Turkey are either with Russia or with the terrorists”.

Turkey says the plane strayed into its airspace and ignored repeated warnings, while furious Moscow insists it did not cross from Syria and has accused Ankara of a planned provocation. “Turkey will regret many times what’s been done”, said Putin.

After the shooting of the Russian plane, which caused the death of one pilot, the Turkish President told journalists today that problems such as the one between Turkey and Russia “should be solved diplomatically”.

Turkey has strongly rejected Russian allegations it has any links with Islamic State militants.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of a conference in Belgrade after Putin on Monday snubbed Erdogan at the United Nations climate summit in Paris.

“Relations between the YPG and Turkey aren’t so good, to say the least, so it seems implausible”, van Wilgenburg added.

Russia’s economy has been battered by falling energy prices and Western sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. “Every day it produces a variety of lies”, Davutoglu said.

Syria’s government has credited Russian Federation for making major inroads against “terrorists” through its air campaign in the country. “The profits from selling oil are one of the most important sources of the terrorists’ activity in Syria”.

“They’re supporting the moderate Syrian opposition”.