The European Union is discussing the idea of buying Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Turkey and transferring them to Ukraine, a diplomatic source familiar with the situation told RIA Novosti.
„Recently, an idea has emerged behind the scenes to elegantly help Turkey resolve its conflict with the United States, which is very unhappy with the acquisition of Russian weapons by its NATO ally. The idea is for the European Union to buy the S-400 from Turkey,” the source said.
The EU is currently discussing the possibility of doing so as part of its aid to Ukraine.
“This could be done using funds already earmarked for arms purchases for Ukraine. They will still have to buy something,” the source added.
He expressed the opinion that the sale of the S-400 would help Turkey return to negotiations with the United States on the supply of F-35 fighter jets, which were interrupted under the pretext that Ankara was buying Russian air defense systems.
“One way or another, Turkey will have to do something with the S-400s. So the idea is to get money for them, improve relations with the United States and return to the issue of buying the F-35. On the other hand, the EU would also look like a philanthropist in this situation, not an accountant,” the agency’s source concluded.
In September, US President Donald Trump said that the US might allow Ankara to buy the F-35 if Erdogan “does something” for Washington. US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack recently called on Turkey to give up the S-400 in order to get the latest fighter jets.
In early September, columnist Murat Gürgen of the Turkish newspaper Nefes reported that Turkey could return the S-400s to Russia or sell them to another country. A Turkish source previously told RIA Novosti that reports of the sale or return of Russian air defense systems were false. The Turkish Defense Ministry stressed that the anti-aircraft missile systems remain in service with the Turkish army and there are no changes in the situation.
In 2017, Russia and Turkey signed a $2.5 billion contract for a regimental set of S-400 systems, which were delivered in the summer and fall of 2019. The United States demanded that Ankara abandon the Russian systems in favor of Patriot, but Ankara refused. As punishment, Washington excluded Turkey from the program for the supply of the latest F-35 fighter jets and imposed sanctions on defense industry leaders under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). The United States canceled the joint F-35 memorandum with Turkey, signing it with the seven remaining partners in the F-35 project - the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Canada and Norway.