Vladislav Grigoriev19:12, 17.12.25
The rejection of Russian S-400 systems may allow Turkey to return to the F-35 fighter jet production and procurement program.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to take back the S-400 air defense systems that Ankara bought from Moscow nearly a decade ago, Bloomberg reported , citing sources.
Erdogan reportedly raised the issue of returning the S-400s to Russia during a meeting with Putin in Turkmenistan last week, citing the US’s demand that Turkey no longer retain Russian air defense systems if Ankara wants to return to the F-35 fighter jet production and procurement program.
The agency recalled that Erdogan had previously discussed this issue with US President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House in September. After that, the US ambassador to Turkey publicly called on Ankara to abandon the Russian S-400 systems.
Informed sources told reporters that the rejection of Russian military equipment could significantly improve relations with the United States, opening the way for the lifting of American sanctions on the Turkish defense industry and Ankara’s access to F-35 fighter jets. A senior Turkish diplomat also assured that Ankara expects the sanctions to be lifted next year.
The US has given Turkey an ultimatum regarding Russian S-400 systems – what is known
Recall that earlier, the US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said that Turkey should no longer keep the Russian S-400 air defense systems if it wants to return to the F-35 fighter jet production and procurement program. He shared that the US and Turkey are in talks regarding the Russian missiles that Ankara purchased about a decade ago and its desire to rejoin the F-35 program.
US President Donald Trump raised the issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House in September, signaling he was open to resuming cooperation with Ankara. But the ambassador’s comments underscore Washington’s insistence, backed by other NATO members, that Turkey must abandon the Russian missile system.
(c)UNIAN 2025
After 10 years Erdogan came to the conclusion: may be I bought junk…………..
Sure, he wants to give the system back because of the US. That never stopped him to buy it in the first place.
No, he wants to get rid of it because the Ukrainians have proven what a pile of junk it is … very expensive junk.
Could agent Krasnov be pressing Erdogan to return the S-400’s because putler needs them in ruSSia?