Ankara sticking to Russian missile purchase, says Turkish MP

Turkey is going ahead with a purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system, a Turkish parliamentarian said ahead of an informal Friday deadline which a US official said Washington has set for Ankara to respond to a rival US offer.

NATO member Turkey has repeatedly said it is committed to buying the Russian missile defense system, despite warnings from the US-led alliance that the S-400s cannot be integrated into the NATO air defense system.

Volkan Bozkir, chairman of Turkey's parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, said Ankara would remain loyal to its S-400 deal with Russia as Turkish authorities needed the system to address security concerns.

"With regard to Patriots, if the opportunity is at a level we desire, we have expressed we could also buy those too," he said during a visit to Washington, adding Turkey's relations with Russia and the United States...

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