Kremlin says in talks on moving Russian missile systems from Turkey

The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that work is underway to relocate Russian-made missile-defence systems from Turkey to another country, potentially allowing Ankara to regain access to the US F-35 fighter jet programme. Turkey acquired the S-400 air defence systems from Russia in 2017 amid strained relations with Washington over the Syrian conflict and other disputes.

This acquisition led to criticism from NATO allies and prompted the United States to sanction Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), preventing the country from procuring US-made F-35s it had already paid for. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Saturday that Moscow is open to transferring the S-400 systems to another nation, provided that the host country is responsible and maintains friendly relations with Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the move is on the agenda, with relevant work currently underway and appropriate contacts being established. Turkey has long sought to resolve the ongoing F-35 dispute with the United States, and the Trump administration has indicated a willingness to put the matter behind them. During the NATO summit in Ankara in early July, President Trump suggested that he was considering allowing Turkey back into the F-35 programme.