Russia Can Protect Itself, Turkish President Erdogan Says After Missile Strikes

The remarks follow the alleged U.S. decision to let Ukraine use U.S. long-range missiles to strike distant targets inside Russia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives for a meeting with the Serbian president in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct. 11, 2024. Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Russia has the “power” to defend itself after Ukraine fired six U.S.-made ballistic missiles into Russia’s western Bryansk region.

“Russia has the power and the measures to protect itself,” Erdogan told reporters on Nov. 19 at the G20 summit in Brazil, according to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.