Turkey announced that it would not give up Russia’s S-400 missiles because of pressure from the US

According to Azernews.az (Azerbaijan) newspaper on March 23, the President of the Turkish Defense Industry Bureau (SSB) Ismail Demir said that the country has no plans to give up Russia’s S-400 air defense missile system under pressure from the US or NATO.

“Turkey has the ability to decide on its own policy. This is not a topic of discussion for us. We have dealt with this issue in the past,” Demir said.

Demir stressed that Ankara’s position is undisputed, and the possibility of ending cooperation with Russia has not even been considered. Demir stated that Turkey’s position is to ensure peace and end the conflict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, according to Izvestia (Russia), officials and experts believe that Ankara will maintain a relatively neutral attitude in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and will not give up military-technical cooperation with Russia. .

An official in the Russian State Duma (lower house) noted that there is no reason for Ankara to agree to Washington’s proposal and to transfer the S-400 systems to Ukraine, as Turkey itself needs them.

“I don’t see a reason for Turkey to give up the S-400s and give them to Ukraine. Why should they do this? These systems work for them, they are reliable and perform better. [hệ thống] Patriot. I do not believe that Turkey will follow in the footsteps of the US,” said Russian MP Alexey Chepa.

Earlier, the Pentagon revealed that the US was negotiating with Ankara to transfer the S-400 air defense missile system to Kiev in exchange for Turkey’s participation in the program to produce F-35 fighter jets. America and lifting sanctions against Ankara.

The Biden administration has asked allies using Russian-made missile systems and equipment, including the S-300 and S-400, to consider transferring them to Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia.