The United States is negotiating with Turkey the possibility of sending S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine. This was reported by Sky News Arabia.
"We are in continuous negotiations with Ankara to give up the S-400 system and send it to Kyiv in exchange for Turkey's return to the F-35 program and lifting of sanctions," the newspaper said, citing a Pentagon spokesperson.
Turkey was the first among the NATO countries to buy these systems from Russia. The United States has imposed sanctions on Turkey because of the purchase of Russian S-400s.
Russia began supplying S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Turkey in July 2019. The contract for the supply of the air-defense system S-400 was signed in late 2017.
In early June 2019, the US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said that Turkey should choose between the Russian air-defense system S-400 and American F-35 fighters. The United States was concerned that the simultaneous use of Russian and American weapons would allow Moscow to get access to classified information about the new F-35.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan called the purchase of Russian S-400s a forced move. According to him, the country purchased it because of the US refusal to supply Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems.