© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev
A Sukhoi Su-57 multi-role fighter during the rehearsal of the Victory Parade flyovers in Moscow.
A Sukhoi Su-57 multi-role fighter during the rehearsal of the Victory Parade flyovers in Moscow.
"Our ministries continue to have meetings with their counterparts [on this issue]," Erdogan told reporters on Friday, after being asked whether Turkey will purchase Su-57s.
The president's words came a few days after he personally inspected the fifth-generation plane during an air show outside Moscow, where its export model was unveiled for the first time.
Turkey began eyeing Russian warplanes after its NATO ally, the US, refused to sell it F-35 jet fighters. Washington was trying to pressure Ankara into scrapping a contract to buy the Russian S-400 air defense missile system. Turkish officials refused to budge, insisting the country is free to get weapons from whoever it chooses.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu noted that Turkey prefers sticking to its original plan of getting the jets from the US, as well as remaining in the F-35 program. However, the country will explore other options, if that does not happen, he said.
Comment: This is the new American foreign policy: throw a self-righteous fit, then watch as your emotionalism ends up making things worse than they would have been had you just shut your mouth and let things be.