ANKARA – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Ergodan reaffirmed on MondayAnkara’s determination to purchase Russian S-400 Triumf air defense systemsdespite the new US sanctions against Russia’s state arms exporterRosoboronexport.
“The S-400 issue bothers someone. Why? Turkey decides its fate itself. Wewill do what is beneficial for the country. And we took this step,” Ergodantold an economic forum in Ankara.
The Turkish leader added that Ankara “should not ask somebody’s permission”to sign any agreements.
On Friday, the United States unveiled new sanctions against 38 Russianindividuals and entities, including Rosoboronexport, as well as seniorgovernment officials and businessmen. Russian Foreign Ministry’sspokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday that Moscow had a listof possible retaliatory measures in response to the recent the sanctions’expansion.
The Turkish president had earlier said that the S-400 systems delivery wasthe issue which concerned only Russia and Turkey.