No one can prevent Ankara to develop relations with Moscow, Erdogan says

By  Trend

No one can prevent Turkey from developing relations with Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Turkish media reported May 15.

Erdogan noted that Russia is one of Turkey's strategic partners in the region.

The head of state also noted that relations between Russia and Turkey are at the highest level at the moment.

With regards to Turkey's purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) S-400, Erdogan said that this should not bother the United States and NATO countries.

"When Greece, which is also a NATO member, acquired Russian S-300 complexes, it did not bother the United States," Erdogan said.

Regarding the expected sanctions by the United States, Erdogan said that Washington, instead of talking about sanctions, should support Turkey.

Russian and Turkish representatives signed a loan agreement for the supply of anti-aircraft missile systems S-400 in Ankara, in December 2017. Turkey will pay for part of this deal on its own, and the other part will be paid for through the Russian Federation's defense loan.

The Secretariat of the Turkish Defense Industry said in its statement that Ankara will acquire two batteries of the Russian S-400 systems, which will be serviced by Turkish personnel. The parties agreed on technological cooperation in this field for the development of the production of anti-aircraft missile systems in Turkey.