Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet over Syria on Tuesday after claiming it strayed into its airspace and then ignored several warnings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the shooting down, which led to the death of one pilot, was a “stab in the back” and would have “serious consequences”.
Today, on the American holiday of Thanksgiving, social media users suggested Putin will be having “Turkey for dinner”.
One meme shows Putin chasing Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan through a field with a hunting rifle.
Another shows a mock conversation between Putin and US President Barack Obama, who asks him: “What will you be having for Thanksgiving dinner?”
Putin replies: “Turkey”.
One meme highlights the fact that Russian warplanes have strayed into other countries’ airspace without warning and into Turkey’s at least three times in the last two months.
In a mock exchange with President Erdogan, Putin says: “Sultan WTF why are you shooting down my planes?”
Erdogan replies: “Tsar I told you that if Russian planes violate Turkish airspace we will shoot them down.”
Finally, Putin says: “But I violate other countries airspace all the time and no one ever dares to shoot down one of my planes.”
Another, which gets straight to the point, has Putin saying: “Fine... I'll roast my own Turkey”.
Captain Konstantin Murakhtin, who was rescued from rebel held territory, claimed they were given no warning they were violating Turkish airspace.
His co-pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was killed by local rebels after their plane was shot down.
Russia has since moved its fearsome S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, capable of shooting down a plane from 250 miles away, to the Turkey-Syria border; dailymail reported.
S/SH