Tensions remain high between Russia and Turkey after a Russian warship fired warning shots at a "provocative" Turkish boat in order to avoid a collision. The incident occurred on Sunday in the Aegean Sea some 12 nautical miles from the Greek island of Lemnos.
The Russian Defense Ministry summoned Turkish defense attaché in Moscow, warning Turkey about the possible harmful consequences of the reckless actions by Ankara against the Russian military contingent involved in tackling international terrorism in Syria, according to RT.
"Deep concerns were voiced over another provocative action by the Turkish side against the Russian patrol ship Smetlivy in the Aegean Sea, which forced them to open warning fire...in order to avoid a collision with the Turkish vessel," the ministry said in a statement.
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, however, reiterated his government's conciliatory stand, saying that Turkey is not in favor of tension with Russia. "We have always been in favour of overcoming tensions through dialogue rather than conflict," Cavusoglu said after the incident, according to BBC.
The downing of the Su-24M fighter jet by the Turkish air force on Nov. 24 has heightened tensions between the two countries, as HNGN previously reported. Turkey continues to maintain that its air force shot down the plane because it had entered the Turkish airspace. Moscow dismissed the Turkish explanation, saying the fighter jet was downed in Syrian airspace. Russia has imposed retaliatory economic sanctions on Turkey following the incident.
