Ankara gave Moscow ground for war, but Russia has refused to respond 'symmetrically', Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told reporters answering the question on Russian Su-24 downing by Turkish F-16.
Turkish Air Force jets shot down the Russian SU-24 bomber after it entered Turkish airspace Nov. 24. Relations between Russia and Turkey have deteriorated after the incident.
"After a plane was destroyed, how would a country usually react in the 20th century? Begin a war. Because this [Su-24 downing] was a direct attack on another country," the prime minister said, RIA Novosti reported.
"Naturally, war is the worst option. As a matter of fact, Turkey has violated all international legal standards, they committed an act of aggression against us and basically gave ground for war. However we decided against a tit-for-tat response," the prime minister added.