Turkey apologises to Putin

  • 28/06/2016
Turkey apologises to Putin

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has written to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to apologise over the shooting down of a Russian air force jet by Turkey's military, the Kremlin says.

After the Russian jet was shot down in November last year near the Syrian-Turkish border, Russia imposed trade restrictions on Ankara.

Mr Putin had said they would not be lifted unless Mr Erdogan apologised over the incident.

There was no immediate comment from Ankara.

In a statement on Monday, the Kremlin said Mr Putin had received a letter from Mr Erdogan "in which the Turkish leader expressed his desire to resolve the situation connected to the downing of a Russian military aircraft".

"The letter states, in particular, that Russia is a friend to Turkey and a strategic partner, with which the Turkish authorities would not wish to spoil relations," the Kremlin statement said.

It cited Mr Erdogan as saying in the letter: "I want to once again express my sympathy and deep condolences to the family of the Russian pilot who died and I say: 'I'm sorry'."

Reuters