Kremlin spokesman denies media reports claiming Turkish leader proposed Russia returning S-400 air defense systems during meeting with Russian president in Turkmenistan last week
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| Putin - Erdogan |
A Kremlin spokesman on Thursday dismissed media reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week discussed Ankara returning its S-400 air defense systems to Moscow.
"That topic was not on the agenda," Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow, referring to Putin and Erdogan's talks on the sidelines of an international meeting last week in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
In 2017, Türkiye purchased four S-400 air defense systems from Russia for $2.5 billion. The US claimed the Russian system was a security risk, but Türkiye maintained that the S-400 would pose no threat to NATO or its armaments because it would not be integrated into the alliance's systems. Ankara also repeatedly proposed setting up a commission to resolve the issue. When Türkiye refused, the US removed it from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move Türkiye has called unlawful.
Asked about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Peskov said Russia is preparing contacts with the US side following Washington's work with Kyiv and Brussels.
He added: "We are indeed preparing for certain contacts with our American counterparts to obtain information about the results of the work done by Americans with Europeans and Ukrainians.”
According to media reports, US negotiators Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet this weekend with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Miami, Florida.
source: aa