Obama urges Erdogan to de-escalate tensions with Russia
US President Barack Obama has called on his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to de-escalate tensions with Moscow, after Ankara downed a Russian jet on Tuesday, the White House says.
"The leaders agreed on the importance of de-escalating the situation and pursuing arrangements to ensure that such incidents do not happen again," the White House said on Tuesday, referring to Obama's telephone call to Erdogan.
Earlier in the day, the Turkish military downed a Russian Sokhui Su-24 Fencer jet, claiming that the aircraft had repeatedly violated the country’s air space.
Shortly after the incident, Obama who was hosting visiting French President Francois Hollande, reiterated his support for the Turkish military’s decision. "Turkey, like every country, has a right to defend its territory and its airspace."
The American president then invited both sides “to figure out what happened,” advising them against any “escalation.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Turkey’s allegations, saying that the jet was 1 kilometer inside Syria before being targeted.
He described the hostile act as a “stab in the back,” administered by "the accomplices of terrorists."
Putin also warned the NATO member against the possible ramifications of the action, saying, "We will never tolerate such crimes like the one committed today."
As a result of the attack, which cost the Russian military 2 lives, Moscow announced that it will deploy its sophisticated S-400 missile defense systems to Syria.
S-400 is Russia’s most advanced air defense technology and is capable of intercepting and destroying airborne targets such as aircraft and ballistic and cruise missiles at distances of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles).
Also on Tuesday, Russian media reported that Russian Navy’s Moskva missile cruiser, equipped with the Fort air defense system, a sea-based variant of the robust S-300 system, will be stationed off the coast of Syria’s Latakia province.
Russia has been conducting airstrikes on Daesh positions at the request of the Syrian government since September 30.
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