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Russia is in contact with Türkiye over the S-400 air defense systems previously supplied to Ankara, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, describing the topic as "highly sensitive."
"We have had contacts with the Turkish side on this topic, and we will continue contacts with the Turkish side on this issue," Peskov told reporters, responding to a request to comment on reports in Turkish media that Ankara had resold the Russian S-400 systems to free itself from U.S. sanctions.
Asked whether Ankara had approached Moscow for permission for such a sale, and if so, how Russia had responded, Peskov did not directly answer, saying only that "this topic falls into the category of highly sensitive matters."
Under the terms of Türkiye's original purchase agreement, any transfer of the S-400 systems to a third country would require Russian approval as the end-user rights holder.
Reports have suggested Türkiye is working to sell the systems to a Gulf country as part of efforts to satisfy U.S. conditions for lifting CAATSA sanctions.
According to a separate Bloomberg report, Türkiye is seeking Russia's consent to transfer the S-400 systems to a third country in an effort to clear the way for the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets.
Ankara reportedly approached Moscow in recent weeks, citing Turkish officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private, and that the request followed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's own earlier proposal, which gained little traction, to return the S-400 systems to Russia outright.
Turkish officials said Russia has not yet responded to Ankara's request, and that if Moscow agrees, the S-400 batteries would be transferred elsewhere, though the officials declined to identify a potential destination.
Türkiye had separately proposed keeping the S-400 system while allowing U.S. oversight of its operation, an idea intended to address concerns that data gathered by the system could compromise the F-35's stealth capabilities.
That proposal failed to gain traction with U.S. officials, according to Bloomberg's sourcing, and Ankara currently does not use the system despite having it in its inventory, Turkish officials told the outlet.
U.S. senators told reporters this week that transferring the S-400 to a third country would not necessarily address Washington's underlying security concerns.
According to the report, the matter was part of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's agenda when he traveled to the Russian city of Kazan in June to meet President Vladimir Putin.
Türkiye was barred from acquiring F-35 jets after taking delivery of the Russian S-400 system in 2019, a purchase made during a period of strained ties with NATO allies dating to the Obama administration.
Türkiye had also sought to buy U.S.-made Patriot missiles at the time but said Washington was not committed to finalizing a deal, a frustration that became part of Ankara's justification for turning to Russia, according to Bloomberg.
The U.S. imposed CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye's defense industry in 2020 in response to Türkiye's purchase of the S-400.
Washington has said Türkiye must give up the missile system before it can rejoin the F-35 program.
During a meeting with Erdogan this week, Trump said he "would consider" inviting Türkiye back into the F-35 program.
"We have a better relationship with Türkiye, and Türkiye's been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal," Trump said, adding, "We're gonna be taking the sanctions off."
At a news conference at the close of the NATO summit, however, Trump also said he had not made a final decision on the F-35 question: "I haven't totally made up my mind, but my inclination is to say, look, he's done everything, he's helped us in so many different ways," he said of Erdogan.
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