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Russia is waiting for Türkiye to respond to reports about possible U.S. arms supplies to Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Friday.
"The story is well known; we raised all the questions with the Turkish side. We are awaiting a response and appropriate clarification," Grushko told reporters.
The proposed transfer follows a U.S. State Department notification to Congress dated Aug. 6, 2026, covering American-made weapons previously supplied to Türkiye and held in its stockpiles.
The Congressional Record lists 12 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, 2,524 M26 unguided rockets with DPICM cluster warheads and 47,000 M509A1 203mm DPICM artillery rounds, along with 70 M39 ATACMS missiles.
The MLRS equipment and ammunition have an original acquisition value of about $255.9 million, while the ATACMS missiles are valued at about $28 million. Under the proposal, Türkiye would reduce older U.S.-origin equipment in its inventory and free up resources for modernization and maintenance, while Ukraine would receive the weapons for fire-support capabilities.
The transfer remains subject to congressional review, with the State Department indicating it is prepared to authorize the retransfer.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry requested explanations from Washington and Ankara in August after the plans emerged. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the proposed package as a "considerable arsenal" that included offensive weapons and questioned the circumstances and terms of the delivery.
Grushko also declined to comment on reports that Türkiye had sent Russia and Ukraine a draft memorandum aimed at ending attacks on civilian and commercial vessels in the Black Sea, adding that Moscow and Ankara remain in "systematic" and "constant" dialogue on maritime security.
A Turkish diplomat told AFP on Thursday that Ankara had shared the draft with both sides after at least 25 Turkish-owned vessels were hit in the Black Sea since late June, including four flying the Turkish flag.
The proposal draws on the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations to facilitate safe maritime passage.
Under the new plan, Türkiye reportedly wants to make greater use of the territorial waters of Black Sea states, including Türkiye and potentially Georgia, to reduce vessels’ exposure to more vulnerable stretches of international waters.
Ankara has been pressing Moscow and Kyiv to protect civilian shipping as attacks have increased. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for a moratorium on attacks against vessels in August, while Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry has separately urged the parties to take concrete measures to protect navigation.
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