Putin: Russia Will Use All Options to Enforce Security after Downing SU-24

MOSCOW- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that “after the downing of the Russian Su-24 fighter jet over Syria, we cannot rule out the possibility of other incidents, Russian president Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

“After what happened yesterday, we cannot rule out the possibility of other incidents. If it happens we will have to react to it somehow. Our citizens in Turkey may face danger, which is something the Foreign Ministry should address,” Putin said, according to Sputnik news.

 The Russian president also said that current Turkish government is purposely leading the country toward “Islamic extremism”.

Russia will treat the Su-24 incident very seriously and will use all options available to enforce security, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said.

“I wish to say that we will definitely treat the incident very seriously, and will use all options to ensure security,” the president added, referring to Tuesday’s downing of a Russian S-24 military jet by Turkey.

On Tuesday, a Russian Su-24 jet crashed in Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the plane was downed by an air-to-air missile launched by a Turkish F-16 jet over Syrian territory, and fell 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the Turkish border.

He described the Turkish attack as a “stab in the back” carried out by “accomplices of terrorists.”

In the meantime, the Kremlin announced that Putin has approved the deployment of S-400 air defense missile system at Hmeimim airbase in Syria.

Turkey’s Downing of Su-24 Threatens NATO-Russia Relations- Medvedev

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has slammed Turkey’s downing of a Russian Su-24 Fencer bomber over Syrian territory, calling it a “reckless criminal act” that will worsen relations between Russia and NATO and shows that Ankara is protecting the so-called “Islamic State” (ISIL) terrorist organization.

“The recklessness of the Turkish authorities’ criminal actions of downing the Russian airplane has led to three consequences. The first is the dangerous worsening of relations between Russia and NATO that cannot be justified by any interests, including the protection of state borders,” the Russian prime minister said.

He added that the second consequence was a demonstration of Turkish intention to protect the ISIL terrorists.

“Turkey’s actions basically made it clear that the country protects ISIL. This is hardly surprising, considering the reports that certain Turkish officials have a vested interest in cheap oil supplies coming from the Islamic State,” Dmitry Medvedev said.

“And the third is the undermining of long friendly relations between Russia and Turkey, including in the economic and humanitarian spheres. This damage will be difficult to compensate, and its immediate consequences could turn into the refusal of a range of important joint projects and the loss of positions by Turkish companies on the Russian market,” Medvedev said.

Russia lodges strong protest to Turkish Ambassador to Moscow — foreign ministry

Itar Tass reported that Russia has lodged a strong protest to the Turkish Ambassador in Moscow over the Su-24 incident, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

“We have lodged a strong protest to Turkey’s Ambassador over the incident,” the ministry said.

Moscow expecting Ankara to explain Su-24 downing – source in Russian Foreign Ministry Interfax

Moscow is currently not considering issue of revoking ambassador from Ankara, according to the agency.

H. Mustafa