Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said it’s America’s fault that Turkey shot down a Russian jet.
“The American side, which leads the coalition that Turkey belongs to, knew about the location and time of our planes’ flights, and we were hit exactly there and at that time,” Putin said.
“Why did we pass this information to the Americans? Either they were not controlling what their allies were doing, or they are leaking this information all over the place.”
Putin made the remarks after meeting with French President François Hollande and said Russia will work with France and the US in the fight against ISIS, which claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 Paris terror attacks.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s defiant president refused to apologize for shooting down the military jet, as Russia’s leaders planned to roll out economic sanctions against the country over the next two days.
“I think if there is a party that needs to apologize, it is not us,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told CNN.
“Those who violated our airspace are the ones who need to apologize. Our pilots and our armed forces, they simply fulfilled their duties, which consisted of responding to . . . violations of the rules of engagement. I think this is the essence.”
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the sanctions will include “restrictions and bans on Turkish economic structures operating in Russian territory, restrictions and bans on deliveries of products, including foodstuffs.”
Long-range air defense missiles were also deployed to a Russian airbase in Syria by Putin. He dismissed Turkey’s claims that its fighter jets would not have shot down the Sukhoi Su-24 had it known it was Russian, calling the attack a “treacherous stab in the back.”
“[Our planes] have identification signs and these are well visible,” Putin said.
The war of words has escalated since the plane was shot down Tuesday after flying into Turkish airspace near the Syrian border.
Turkish authorities said the two Russian pilots ignored repeated warnings to change course — messages Russia has denied receiving.
Putin has since demanded an apology from Turkey.
But Erdogan stood by his country’s actions, saying he’d do it again. “Faced with the same violation today, Turkey would give the same response,” he said.
Post wire services