ANKARA 1 Jul (ANA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced US President Donald Trump won't impose sanctions on Turkey for buying the Russian S-400 missile system, but the US is still anxious about Erdogan’s relationship with Putin.

 

Mr Erdogan said: “President Trump assured me that there would be no sanctions over Russia S-400 missile deal. The Turkish President said the delivery of the Russian missile defence system would begin in the first half of July. The US previously warned that Turkey would be sanctioned if it went forward with the S-400 purchase.

 

Mr Erdogan added: “It is out of the question that such a thing takes place between two strategic allies.

 

“I believe it cannot happen.”

 

The US had urged Turkey to drop the Russian military hardware deal, saying it undermined their relationship.

 

But Erdogan refused to back down, saying he doubts NATO allies would impose sanctions on each other.

 

Mr Erdogan added: ”If NATO allies are now imposing sanctions on each other, I don't know anything about that.

 

"These are not impressions I got from the talks I have had with Mr Trump."

 

But, over the past year, Turkey has sought to boost ties with Russia, including in the area of defence.

 

In May, Erdogan announced that Turkey and Russia would develop Moscow's next-generation missile defence system, the S-500.(ANA)

FA/ANA/1 July 2019--------