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The US has presented "alternatives" to Turkey in order to lift sanctions imposed on the country over the acquisition of Russian-made S-400 missile system, a senior US official said on Friday, according to Middle East Eye.

“We have offered alternatives to Turkey, they know exactly what to do if they want to get out from underneath these sanctions,” US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said in an interview with CNN Turk.

“I hope that we can find a way forward.”

Sherman’s statement came as she visited Ankara this week in the first such diplomatic trip made by a member of the Biden administration.

Washington imposed sanctions on Turkish officials in December 2020 under a US law that bars significant military transactions with Russia. Turkey was also removed from the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet programme by the Pentagon in 2019 due to concerns over possible Russian espionage through the S-400s.

“Turkey is well aware of the steps it needs to take,” Sherman said in televised remarks.

“We have talked about ways to take them. And this will be a decision for Turkey to take.”