Putin calls Turkey's downing of Russian jet 'stab in the back'

SOCHI, Russia - President Vladimir Putin called Turkey's downing of a Russian fighter jet "a stab in the back", saying the incident would have serious consequences for Moscow's relations with Ankara.

Speaking in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi before a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, Putin said the downed plane, which Turkey said it had repeatedly warned, had been attacked inside Syria when it was 1 kilometre from the Turkish border and had come down 4 kilometres inside Syria.

"The Russian pilots and the warplane in no way threatened Turkey. This is obvious," Putin said, describing the incident as "a stab in the back."