US Pressure on Ankara Over S-400 'by No Means Surprising' - Moscow

© Sputnik / Alexey MalgavkoThe S-400 Triumf anti-air missile system
The S-400 Triumf anti-air missile system - Sputnik International
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ST.PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - The US pressure on Ankara in relation to its purchases of Russian S-400 is not surprising as Washington uses all possible means to influence its partners, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has stated.

"It's well known that the United States uses any possible ways of exerting pressure on its allies in all the issues… so, the US pressure on Turkey is by no means surprising", the diplomat said.

Grushko also noted that Russia was working on giving a prompt defence response to any threats related to US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The statement comes after US Vice President Mike Pence said on 3 April that Turkey had a choice either to remain a key NATO partner or undermine the alliance by the S-400 purchase.

READ MORE: 'US Must Choose': Turkey Hits Back at Pence With Own Ultimatum Amid S-400 Row

F-35 Lightning aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., prepare for takeoff at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 12, 2018. The aircraft evacuated to Barksdale to avoid possible damage from Hurricane Michael. - Sputnik International
NATO Envoy Explains Why US Concerned by S-400 Proximity to F-35 in Turkey
The Pentagon announced earlier that the United States suspended its deliveries and activities with Turkey on F-35 operational capabilities over Ankara's decision to procure the S-400 defence systems from Russia.

In December 2017, Russia and Turkey signed a loan deal for the supply of S-400 air defence systems to Ankara. In early March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed that the deal was completed and said a new deal on purchases of advanced Russian-made S-500 systems may be possibly concluded in the future.

The S-400 is Russia's next-generation mobile surface-to-air missile system and can carry three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range. The weapon is created to track and destroy various types of aerial targets varying from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles.

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