Kremlin says still waiting for 'realistic' response from Turkey on downing jet

Says it is not considering sanctions against Turkey or imposing a food imports embargo

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia was still awaiting a reasonable answer from Ankara on why it downed a Russian fighter jet earlier this week, adding that it is not considering sanctions against Turkey or imposing a food imports embargo.

"We are still waiting for an explanation, a realistic explanation from the Turkish side," Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, told journalists on a conference call.



Russia's Agriculture Ministry said earlier on Thursday it was strengthening control over food and agriculture imports from Turkey.

"We're not imposing any embargo," Peskov said."

Russian jet downing 'wrong signal to the terrorists': Iran

These (restrictions) are introduced due to an increasing danger from various manifestations of extremism. Of course, additional control measures are taken. This is rather natural, especially taking into account the unpredictable actions of the Republic of Turkey."



Earlier, Turkey’s EU minister said Turkey and Russia do not have the luxury of unfriendly relations. Speaking in Ankara, Volkan Bozkir said he expected ties with Moscow to be maintained following the incident, which elicited a furious response from President Vladimir Putin.