'Turkey to buy S-400s, but also open to Patriot offer'

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will not change course on buying S-400 missiles from Russia, but the country could also accept a "good offer" on U.S. Patriot missiles, said the country's president on Tuesday.

Changing course on Turkey's deal to buy Russian S-400 missiles is "definitely" out of the question, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told private channel NTV.

"Regarding the Patriot issue, if you [the U.S.] provide us good conditions, we are open to that as well. We have to work with alternatives," Erdogan stressed.

After protracted efforts to purchase air defense systems from the U.S. with no success, in 2017 Ankara decided to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems.