FX.co ★ Russia-Turkish relations at crossroads after Su-24 attack

Yesterday, in a telephone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry offered his condolences for the loss of life in the incident with Turkey. He urged for calm and for dialogue between Turkish and Russian officials in the days ahead. John Kerry stressed the need for both sides not to allow this incident to escalate tensions between their two countries or in Syria.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said that downing of Russian Su-24 looks like a planned provocation. However, there is no sign that Russia wants a military escalation.

Sergei Lavrov said that now Russia is seriously rethinking relations with Turkey. Besides, Russian Foreign Minister cancelled his visit to Turkey.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey has no intention of straining ties with its “friend and neighbor” Russia.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained that they were just defending their security. Erdogan said that the Russian jet had been fired in the Turkish airspace but had crashed inside Syria. According to the official data from the Turkish sources, the Russian jet entered the Turkish airspace just for 17 seconds. The source added that before downing the Russian pilots were warned not less than 10 times.