(VOVworld) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Wednesday that Turkey would not retaliate against Russia's sanctions imposed after the downing of a Russian war plane.

The Russian Su-24 jet was downed by Turkish forces (EPA)

Erdogan said Russia is Turkey’s strategic partner and Turkey will continue to provide Russia with products including food. He added there was no question of Turkey retaliating against Russian citizens living in the country. He said Russia's imposing sanctions on Turkey is an emotional action, expressing his hope that Russia will change it soon.

Also on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he is ready to meet with his Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council which started Thursday in Belgrade, Serbia. Lavrov said he spoke with Cavusoglu the next day after the November 24 downing of the Russian Su-24 jet and heard no regrets from Turkey.
He added Russia will not turn down Turkey’s wish to meet Russian Foreign Minister on the margin of OSCE meeting because Russia wants to hear something new compared with what the Turkish leadership said in public. Lavrov said Turkey’s bringing down a Russian jet and saying it violated Turkey airspace near the Syrian border is an attempt to disrupt the Syrian political settlement process launched in Vienna. He said it is clear that the relations between Russia and Turkey cannot develop in this situation on the basis of the business as usual principle. Turkey has refused to apologize for the downing of the Russian Su-24 jet despite Russia’s announcement of sanctions against Turkey.