Erdogan describes his relationship with Putin as honest and based on trust.
"We have respect and trust in our relations with Russia," says the Turkish president.
TASS - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and between the two countries in general, as honest and based on trust.
"We have respect and trust in our relations with Russia. And my relations with Mr. Putin are based on honesty. And all our requests regarding Tatarstan, Dagestan and those regions are being met," he said at a meeting with young people on Sunday, which was televised on TRT channel.
According to the Turkish president, "there were many threats" from other countries "in connection with the purchase of [Russian] S-400 systems." "But we bought S-400s. And now we have them," he said.
In this context, he touched on the subject of possible supplies of F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. "Regarding the F-16 jets, we want them from you [the United States], but you won't give them to us. You promised F-jets, but you broke your word. We paid about 1,4 billion US dollars, but you're not giving them to us. If you don't, there will be a price to pay," he said.
Turkey wants 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and modernization kits for its existing aircraft. The issue was stalled after Ankara purchased Russian S-400 air defense systems. The agreement also suspended Turkey's participation in the F-35 fighter jet development and production project. Opponents of the F-16 deal with Turkey in the US Congress cite Ankara's resistance to allowing Helsinki and Stockholm to join NATO and to its relations with Moscow. Turkey, in turn, says it rejects any conditions for the implementation of the agreement advanced by the US side.
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