Erdogan Says Russia Defense Deal ‘Done’ as Putin Urges More Ties
- Turkey presses ahead with S-400 deal despite U.S. opposition
- Russia, Turkey discuss Syria as Ankara pushes for buffer zone
Photographer: Guneev Sergey/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he’s going ahead with the controversial purchase of a Russian air-defense system over U.S. objections as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin urged even closer military links between their two countries.
“Everything is done” on the agreement to buy the S-400 missile system and “those who ask or suggest we backtrack don’t know us,” Erdogan told reporters after talks with Putin in Moscow on Monday. “If we sign a deal on an issue, that’s a done deal. This is our sovereign right, no one can ask us to back down.’’