Turkey slams Russian missile launcher 'provocation'

Turkey’s foreign minister has called on Russia to end “provocative acts” after images were captured of a Russian soldier apparently pointing a missile launcher as his warship navigated through Turkish waters.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey had made the necessary response over Sunday’s incident which came amid escalating Russian-Turkish tensions following Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane.

Mr Cavusoglu did not provide details but said: “The ship’s passage in such a way was an openly provocative passage. This has to end.”

The minister renewed a call for the two sides to overcome tensions through diplomatic means and for Russia to halt punitive sanctions on Turkey.

Mr Cavusoglu added: “We are asking Russia to act as a more mature state.”