Turkey Suggested to Transfer Russian-Made Missile System to Ukraine
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Turkey was informally suggested by the US to send its Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems to Ukraine to help it fight against Russian forces, media sources claimed.
United States officials have quietly floated to Turkey a proposal that it transfers its Russian-supplied S-400 anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine to use against Russian planes, USNews reported.
The suggestion was made during the past month with the Turkish officials but no specific or formal request was made, the sources told Reuters.
They said it also came up briefly during Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's visit to Turkey earlier this month.
The Biden administration has been asking allies who have been using Russian made equipment and systems including S-300s and S-400s to consider transferring them to Ukraine as it tries to fend off a Russian invasion that began on Feb. 24.
The idea, which analysts said was sure to be shot down by Turkey, was part of a wider discussion between Sherman and Turkish officials about how the United States and its allies can do more to support Ukraine and on how to improve bilateral ties.
The Turkish authorities have not commented on any US suggestion or proposal relating to the transfer to Ukraine of Ankara's S-400 systems, which have been a point of long-standing contention between the two NATO allies.
Turkish foreign ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.
Turkish sources and analysts said any such suggestion would be a non-starter for Turkey, citing issues ranging from technical hurdles related to installing and operating the S-400s in Ukraine, to political concerns such as the blowback Ankara would likely face from Moscow.
Washington has repeatedly asked Ankara to get rid of the Russian-built surface-to-air missile batteries since the first delivery arrived in July 2019. The United States has imposed sanctions on a Turkey's defense industry and removed NATO member Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program as a result.
Ankara has said it was forced to opt for the S-400s because allies did not provide weapons on satisfactory terms.
Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good ties with both. It has said the invasion is unacceptable and voiced support for Ukraine, but has also opposed sanctions on Moscow while offering to mediate.
Ankara has carefully formulated its rhetoric not to offend Moscow, analysts say, with which it has close energy, defense and tourism ties. But Ankara has also sold military drones to Kyiv and signed a deal to co-produce more, angering the Kremlin. Turkey also opposes Russian policies in Syria and Libya, as well as its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
