Turkey apology over downing Russian jet

Turkey’s president has apologised to Moscow after a Russian jet was shot down at the Syrian border, Russian and Turkish officials said yesterday, a move that could open the way for easing a bitter strain in Russia-Turkey ties.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s move comes seven months after the incident, which has drawn a slew of Russian sanctions that have dealt a severe blow to the Turkish economy.

The formal apology, which the Kremlin had requested, would likely allow relations to improve.