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Trump, Erdogan talk about Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400

Monday, 29 April 2019 9:23 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 29 April 2019 9:24 PM ]

A handout picture released by the Turkish Presidential Palace Press Office shows Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) posing with US President Donald Trump during the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 1, 2018. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, talk about a working group to deal with Ankara’s planned purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system.

The two world leaders talked on the phone Monday, when the proposal to create a joint working group was brought up by Turkey.

"Our Honorable President brought up the proposal to establish a working group regarding the procurement of the S-400 defense system from the Russian Federation," the Turkish Presidency said.

PressTV-Turkey making payments for Russia's S-400: Erdogan

Ankara continues to make payments under a deal to buy the missile defense systems.

The White House also confirmed that the Turkish and the US presidents had discussed the issue.

"We have been clear and consistent in emphasizing our grave concerns on the S-400 acquisition with representatives of the Turkish government on numerous occasions and at the highest levels," a senior administration official told Reuters.

The US has been pressuring the NATO member to halt planned purchase of the Russian system but to no avail so far.

The United States announced on April 1 that it would be suspending all “deliveries and activities” related to Turkey's procurement of F-35 stealth fighter jets over Ankara's plans to purchase the S-400.

PressTV-Russia to start delivery of S-400 to Turkey in July

Russia will start shipping S-400 air defense missile systems to Turkey in July despite US pressure.

The S-400 is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.

Ankara is striving to boost its air defense, particularly after Washington decided in 2015 to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Turkish border with Syria, a move that weakened Turkey’s air defense.

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S-400