Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane near the Syrian border has not only frayed previously warm ties between Russia and Turkey, but has also put a strain on the peace talks for Syria, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman says Tuesday.
Turkey shot down the Russian jet last week, insisting it violated its airspace despite numerous warnings and has said it will not apologize for the incident that killed one Russian pilot and a Russian serviceman trying to retrieve the other pilot.
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin claims Turkey shot down its plane to protect what he describes as Turkish profiteering from the oil trade with the Islamic State group, and has slapped a package of sanctions against Turkish products.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova tells The Associated Press the downing has not only caused a diplomatic rift but would also complicate peace talks for Syria that are taking place in Vienna.
Russia insists the talks cannot go ahead until all parties agree on which opposition groups should be covered by a possible cease-fire and which should be targeted by airstrikes.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss a Russian warplane downed by a Turkish fighter jet at the border with Syria. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
— AP
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