Russian-Turkish relations rocky following Turkey’s shooting down of Russian fighter jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at Turkey after Turkish jets shot down a Russian warplane for “violating Turkey airspace”.

In a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Sochi yesterday, Putin described the incident as a “stab in the back” carried out by “accomplices” to terrorists.

He said that the Russian jet did not pose any threat to Turkey because it was carrying out an operation against Daesh in northern Latakia.

Putin added that the downing of the Russian plane will have “serious consequences” for relations between Moscow and Ankara.

He said that his country was dealing with Turkey as a neighbour and a friendly state. “I have no idea who needed what has happened today, but in any case it’s not us,” he added, according to the official Russian news agency TASS.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cancelled a planned visit to Turkey yesterday following the attack.

The semi-official Russian news channel Russia Today quoted the Russian Foreign Minister as issuing recommendations to Russian citizens to advise against traveling to Turkish territory.

Two F-16 jets belonging to the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian fighter plane yesterday morning in an attack that Turkey claims was under the rules of engagement. Ankara says that the planes entered Turkish airspace without authorisation and were warned to retreat ten times within a five-minute period before being shot down.