Russia, Turkey to powwow in first since jet-downing squabble

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he is willing to meet his Turkish counterpart this week for the two countries’ first high-level face-to-face talks since Ankara shot down one of Moscow’s warplanes.

Lavrov says Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was “insisting” on holding talks on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Belgrade on Thursday and Friday.

“We will not be evading this contact,” Lavrov says. “We will hear what Mr. Cavusoglu has to say. Perhaps there will be something new after what has already been said publicly.”

Ties between Russia and NATO member Turkey have been badly strained after Ankara last week shot down the Russian plane along its border with Syria.

Both sides have squabbled furiously over whether the jet breached Turkey’s air space.

— AFP