Russia says Turkish president apologizes for plane downing

The Kremlin said Mr Tayyip Erdogan wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin to apologize after the Su-24 was shot down last November.

Turkish President Erdogan. Photo: AP

"I would like to once again express my deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the deceased pilot and I say: I am sorry," Reuters today quoted the Turkish president as saying in a letter to Mr. Putin released by the Kremlin.

According to the statement, Mr. Erdogan wrote that Russia is a friend and strategic partner of Türkiye, therefore Ankara does not want to harm this relationship. The Turkish President expressed his desire to resolve the situation related to the Russian military plane crash.

There has been no comment from Ankara yet.

Last November, Ankara shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet near the Syrian border. One of the pilots was shot down by rebels on the ground as he ejected. After Moscow imposed trade restrictions on Ankara, Putin said the sanctions would remain in place if Erdogan apologized.

According to VNE