Turkey says not to turn against Russia amid expulsions of Russian diplomats

ANKARA - Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said late Monday that Turkey will not take any move against Russia, while the United States and some European countries expelled Russian diplomats.

Speaking in a press conference after cabinet meeting in Ankara, Bozdag stressed that Turkish-Russian relations are at a good level, and Turkey is not going to adopt measures against Russia.

At least 19 countries, including the United States, Canada, 15 members of the EU, Ukraine and Albania, announced earlier Monday decisions to expel Russian diplomats, over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Ankara and Moscow have been working closely together since a 2016 reconciliation deal ended a crisis sparked by Turkey's downing of a Russian war plane over Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul next week to discuss Syrian issues and regional situation, with the participation of Iranian side.