Turkey says to honor Russia deal as US pressure

Turkey says it will honor the deal to purchase S-400 defense systems from Russia after US senators threatened to ban the transfer of F-35 fighter jets if Ankara goes ahead with the plan.

Speaking in Antalya at a joint news conference with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Moscow and Ankara were discussing delivery times.

Cavusoglu also said Turkey has met its obligations to be part of the F-35 fighter aircraft plan but the US is making contradictory statements over the program.

His remarks came after four US senators on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit the transfer of F-35s to Turkey unless Ankara stops taking delivery of the S-400 system. 

SS