The chairperson of Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), İsmail Demir said late Tuesday that Turkey is still talking to Russia about purchasing a second batch of its S400 missile defence systems despite the war in Ukraine, state-run television TRT News reported.
Demir told state television that the 2017 contract allowed Turkey to receive two batteries of the Russian missile defence systems.
“We are not talking about creating a second project,” Demir said. “Turkey continues to implement the same decision it made from the beginning.”
Washington imposed sanctions on the agency and its head Demir in the closing weeks of US president Donald Trump’s administration for its purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defence system in 2017.
Turkey took delivery of the first batch of the surface-to-air missiles in 2019.
Demir reiterated that Ankara wanted to maintain good relations with Moscow during its invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey’s efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to put an end to the conflict through direct negotiations have helped to improve its relations with Washington in the past few months.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration said that a potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey would be in line with U.S. national security interests and would also serve NATO’s long-term unity.
Demir said Turkey would not receive the second batch of the Russian S-400 very soon because of contractual issues.
Ahval