Putin swears to make Turkey regret plane downing

As Putin fired another salvo in his mounting war of words with NATO member Turkey his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he had “proof” that Russia was involved in illegal oil trading with the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

Turkey has become Moscow’s prime international sparring partner after it shot down a Russian jet on its border with Syria on November 24 -- sparking fury in Russia and economic sanctions from the Kremlin.

Erdogan’s allegations of Russian complicity with IS echo allegations made by Putin against Turkey and its leader in recent days. “We will not forget this complicity with terrorists. We always considered and will always consider treachery to be the ultimate and lowest act. Let those in Turkey who shot our pilots in the back know this,” Putin told lawmakers in his annual state of the nation speech. Russia has accused Erdogan and his family of personally profiting from the oil trade with Islamic State, which controls a large chunk of Syrian territory, including a number of oil fields.

“We know for example who in Turkey fills their pockets and allows terrorists to make money from the stolen oil in Syria,” Putin said. “It is precisely with this money that the bandits recruit mercenaries, buy arms and organise inhuman terrorist acts aimed against our citizens, the citizens of France, Lebanon, Mali and other countries.”

Putin, whose administration has already announced sanctions against Ankara, including a ban on the import of some Turkish foods and reintroducing visas for visitors from the country, insisted Turkey would be made to regret its actions. “We will not rattle our sabres. We will not stop reminding them of what they did and they will not stop regretting their actions,” said Putin.