Turkish Defence Industries Directorate (SSB) Ismail Demir spoke to the Russian media today (23rd of March) and said that Turkey does not intend to give up the Russian S-400 air defence missile systems under pressure from either the United States or NATO.
“This is not a subject of discussion for us. We addressed the issue in the past. Abandoning [the use of S-400] is out of the question”, and Demir added, “Our position is to maintain peace between Ukraine and Russia. We will do anything to stop the bloodshed.”
It had been previously reported that United States is discussing with Turkey the prospect of sending these S-400s to Ukraine.
Sources speaking to Reuters recently claimed that the United States had asked Turkey to unofficially deliver S-400s to Ukraine to be used against the Russian invasion. It was stated that the aforementioned proposal was also on the agenda during the visit of the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Turkey.
