According to Pushkov, the reaction of many of the US presidential candidates who demand to punish Russia serves as proof of his conjecture. The US elite acts offended and appears perplexed by this development, as Russia’s actions have drastically changed the situation in Syria, he added.
"When our Aerospace Forces targeted that mechanism (the Daesh oil exports), Erdogan became nervous and made an absolutely inadequate, reckless and purely reflexive decision," Pushkov said regarding the downing of a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft in Syria by Turkish forces.
Russia has been launching airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad since late September. Russia has also called for the creation of a broad anti-Daesh coalition.
