(CNN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin, pugnacious as always, called the Turkish downing of a Russian war plane “an enemy act” and rejected international efforts to oust Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Turkish F-16s shot down the Russian Su-24 on November 24, saying the Russian plane was over Turkish airspace and ignored warnings to change course. One of the two Russian pilots was killed.
Putin said Turkey had other options.
“Would it not just have been easier just to pick up the phone?” Putin asked at his annual press conference in Moscow.
Putin also appeared to take aim at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“There is a problem with the Turkish leadership,” Putin said.
He criticized Turkish officials for getting in touch with NATO rather than choosing first to talk with Russia.
‘This was a stab in the back
“Did they think we’d run away?” Putin asked. “No, we’re not that kind of country.”
On the contrary, Putin said, Russia has increased its aviation presence in Syria.
“This was a stab in the back,” Putin said. “On interstate level, I do not see the prospect for improving relations.”
He also rejected international effort to oust Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Many Western leaders have said that Assad, who is blamed for the deaths of tens of thousands of his citizens, cannot be part of Syria’s future.
But Putin said he would never agree to outsiders determining Syria’s political future.
“Only the Syrian people can determine who should govern them and under what standards, what rules,” Putin said.