Ankara-Moscow Relations in 'Worst State in Several Decades' – Kremlin

The relations between Russia and Turkey have become more strained than in the past several decades, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Peskov, it is impossible to normalize relations between the two states as long as Turkey refuses to apologize for the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber that had been carrying out strikes on terrorist targets in Syria.

"The [Russia-Turkey] relations are now in the worst state they have been in the past few decades. And we are regret about it but emphasize that Russia is not responsible for it," Peskov told reporters.

The Kremlin spokesman added that Turkey had committed "treasonous acts of aggression" against Russia.

Relations between Ankara and Moscow deteriorated after the Russian plane had been downed by the Turkish Air Force for allegedly violating Turkey’s airspace. Both Russian and Syrian military officials confirmed that the plane had never crossed into Turkish airspace. In response to the incident, Moscow has imposed a number of economic restrictive measures against Ankara.