A Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system rolls toward Red Square to attend a dress rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
ANKARA – Türkiye has rejected the US proposal to send its Russian-made S-400 air defense system to Ukraine, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday.
Washington suggested Türkiye should hand over control of the S-400 system to the US or another country, the semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Cavusoglu as saying.
Washington later halted the delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye and imposed sanctions on Türkiye for its purchase of a Russian-made system
"The US asked us to send the S-400s to Ukraine, and we said no," Cavusoglu said.
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He added that these proposals were unacceptable for Türkiye because they directly concerned Turkish sovereignty.
Tensions between the United States and Türkiye escalated when Ankara and Moscow struck the S-400 deal, as Washington claimed that the S-400 system would be incompatible with the NATO system and may expose its confidential military information to Russia.
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Washington later halted the delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye and imposed sanctions on Türkiye for its purchase of a Russian-made system.