Kremlin: S-400 return rumors won't harm Russia-Turkey ties

WISE NEWS PRESS / MOSCOW, RUSSIA — DEC. 19, 2025

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that recent allegations suggesting Turkey is considering the return of its S-400 air defense systems will not impact the ongoing relationship between Moscow and Ankara.

Addressing reports claiming that Turkey might return the Russian-made systems due to pressure from the United States, Peskov clarified that Moscow does not view these rumors as a blow to bilateral ties. He further emphasized that the matter was not discussed during the latest meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan. The reports, initially published by Bloomberg, suggested that returning the S-400s could pave the way for Ankara to re-enter the F-35 fighter jet program and see the lifting of US sanctions.

The F-35 dispute and CAATSA sanctions

Turkey was removed from the F-35 joint strike fighter program and placed under CAATSA sanctions following its 2019 acquisition of the S-400 systems. US Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, reaffirmed last week that Washington's condition remains unchanged: Turkey must not possess the S-400 system to rejoin the F-35 program. Currently, Turkey’s inventory includes two S-400 batteries and 128 missiles, with some reports indicating that Ankara might seek a refund of the billions of dollars spent on the acquisition if a return were to be finalized.

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