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Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Turkey's downing of the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 jet, during an interview with journalists from the German 'Bild' newspaper in Sochi, last Tuesday.

Putin said tensions in relations between Russia and Turkey "have nothing to do with Turkey's NATO membership," stating that "nobody has attacked Turkey." Putin continued, "instead of trying to provide us with an explanation for the war crime they have committed ... the Turkish government rushed to NATO headquarters seeking protection." The Russian president called this reaction "quite odd" and described it as "humiliating for Turkey."

Putin emphasised that NATO "has to protect its members from attack" in case such an attack occurs. "but nobody has attacked Turkey," he reiterated. "If Turkey has interests elsewhere around the world, in neighbouring countries, does it mean that NATO must protect and secure these interests?," Putin asked rhetorically, adding "does it mean that Germany, as a NATO member, must help Turkey to expand into neighbouring territories?"

The Russian leader expressed his hope that "such incidents will not cause large-scale hostilities," adding that if it were threatened, Russia "would defend its interests, its security by all possible and available means."

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