Erdogan: Turkey cannot endure Russian violation of airspace

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Russia that his country cannot endure any further Russian violation of its airspace.

“NATO has issued a stern ultimatum,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel in Brussels.

“We cannot endure it. Some steps that we do not desire are being taken. It is not suitable for Turkey to accept them. This is also beyond the principles of NATO,” he added.

“Any attack on Turkey means an attack on NATO,” Erdogan warned.

“If Russia loses a friend like Turkey, with whom it has been cooperating on many issues, it will lose a lot, and it should know that,” he went on.

Moscow claimed its warplanes entered Turkish airspace on 3 October for only a few second and as a result of to bad weather.

On Tuesday, NATO rejected Moscow’s explanation regarding its violation of Turkey’s airspace.

The Russian air force has been launching airstrikes on Syrian rebel sites which have claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including women and children.