Russia accuses Turkey of shooting down warplane to protect oil trade with Isis

President Vladimir Putin has called the downing of its jet as a "huge mistake" and claimed that Turkey was protecting its oil trade with Islamic State. The Russian leader made the accusations while at the international talks on climate change in Paris, adding that Russia had received more information that IS oil was finding its way to Turkey.

There are illegal oil deliveries on an "industrial scale" from Syria to Turkey, claims Putin. "We have every reason to think that the decision to shoot down our plane was dictated by the desire to protect the oil supply lines to Turkish territory, right to the ports where it is loaded onto tankers," Putin said during a news conference at the UN climate talks.

"We have received additional information which unfortunately confirms that this oil, produced in areas controlled by the Islamic State and other terrorist organisations, is transported on an industrial scale to Turkey."

Putin did not meet his Turkish opposite number Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the climate change summit on Monday (30 November). Turkey has denied any links to Islamic State and is taking part of a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the extremist militant group.

The Turkish government has refused to apologise for the shooting down the Russian jet. "Protection of our airspace, our border is not only a right but a duty for my government and no Turkish premier or president ... will apologise [for] doing our duty," Erdoğan said.

In response to the sanctions imposed by Russia, Erdoğan said on CNN Turk television he would act "patiently, not emotionally" before taking any measures against Russia. Turkey was working hard to ensure ties with Russia, its main energy supplier, do not break down completely.

A Turkish F-16 fighter jet downed the Su-24 warplane after claiming that it violated Turkish airspace for just 17 seconds, despite issuing repeated warnings. One Russian pilot was killed and the other rescued following the crash on 24 November. The pilot claims there was no warning.