Kremlin says only Ankara’s steps can resolve problems in Russia-Turkey ties

MOSCOW, May 30. /TASS/. No working group will ever be able to resolve the problem in Russia-Turkey relations, because only the Turkish leadership can do that, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media. He was speaking in the wake of the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s proposal for creating a joint working group together with Russia in order to identify ways of normalizing relations between the two countries.

"No working group will manage to resolve the problem. Only the Turkish leadership can do that. Moscow is waiting for its actions President Vladimir Putin mentioned in Athens," he said.

Earlier Putin stated that Moscow was waiting for Ankara to take specific steps, adding that "so far we have heard no apologies or readiness to compensate for the damage."

Bilateral relations saw a sharp worsening after Turkish warplanes on November 24, 2015 shot down Russia’s Sukhoi-24 bomber over Syria. Ankara claims the Russian plane briefly strayed into Turkey’s airspace.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the plane had remained over Syria all the time and there was no violation of Turkey’s airspace.

Putin then warned that the attack against the fighter-bomber would entail "serious consequences" for bilateral relations. On November 28 he signed a decree on measures to protect Russia’s national security and the protection of Russian citizens from criminal and other unlawful actions and on the use of special economic measures against Turkey.