"I do not understand what kind of first step is being expected from us. We are not a country that is sitting in the defendant's chair. We did not row with Russia. On the contrary, we are the country that wants to develop relations with Russia. We have been friends with Putin, and when one sacrifices such a vast country like Turkey because of a pilot's mistake, or for any other reason, it raises some thoughts. I think we need to make efforts in order to rebuild relations with Russia. I hope that we can overcome this problem as soon as possible," Erdogan said at a press conference.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reminded Erdogan what must be done if Turkey hope to improve relations with Russia.
"The president [Vladimir Putin] said just days after the murder of our pilot that after such aggressive and treacherous actions the Russian side was obviously expecting an apology, an explanation of what occurred, payment of compensation for the downed aircraft, as well as compensation to the family of the deceased pilot… I can just remind of these words," Peskov told reporters.
The Turkish president called the Su-24 incident a pilot's mistake not worth ruining relations between the two countries.
