Claim: Erdogan requested Putin to take back S-400 systems

WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TURKEY — DECEMBER 18, 2025

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the return of S-400 air defense systems in a bid to mend fractured relations with the United States.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the proposal was discussed during a bilateral meeting held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on December 12. The claim suggests that Ankara seeks to resolve the long-standing S-400 crisis to secure its reinstatement into the F-35 fighter jet program. Sources indicate that Turkey may be looking for a refund of the over $2 billion cost through various energy compensation mechanisms.

Official denials from Ankara and Moscow

Despite the detailed reports, official sources from both countries have moved to discredit the claims. Prior to the meeting, Turkish Ministry of National Defense sources stated that no such bargaining was on the table. Similarly, Russian officials denied the Bloomberg report, reiterating that the defense systems belong to Turkey and no return agreement has been reached.

Persistent pressure from the US and NATO

The S-400 acquisition in 2017 triggered intense pressure from both Washington and NATO, who argue the Russian tech is incompatible with alliance defenses. This led to Turkey’s formal removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on July 17, 2019. Furthermore, the US continues to impose sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which have targeted high-ranking Turkish defense officials since April 2021.

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