Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday said Turkey would not be incapacitated by Russians sanctions imposed on them. Russia had clamped down on Turkey after it shot down a Russian warplane on November 24, which Russia claimed was because Turkey is allied with Islamic State militants. Associated Press reported that Davutoglu said Turkey would not apologise for defending its own borders, and that it would not be “brought to its knees” by Russia.

"Those who believe that economic sanctions against an honourable nation like Turkey can bring it to its knees will be mistaken," Davutoglu said. He also reiterated that Turkey did not know which nation the plane was from, and that it was in Turkish airspace. For the first time, however, the leader suggested that the country could not morally allow aircraft to trespass into Turkish territory before bombing Syria, where Turkish people live as well. "Neither our conscience, nor our history, nor our morals could have allowed [the plane] to bomb innocent people by violating [their border]," Davutoglu said.

Turkey has said that it warned the pilots of the Russian plane several times before shooting it down, action the Russians have denied was taken. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the act, calling it a war crime, and has said Turkey would regret it deeply. He also refused a meeting with Turkish leaders at the Paris climate change conference.