Turkey will not send Russian S-400s to Ukraine, says Erdogan

President said talks with Washington on new F-16 jets and kits were going well

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, front left, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pose for a photo during an extraordinary Nato summit in Brussels. AP Photo

Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a press conference at the end of the summit in Brussels. EPA

France's President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Mr Biden as they arrive at Nato headquarters. AFP

The leaders gather for a photo in Brussels. AP Photo

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Boris Johnson attend a bilateral meeting. Getty Images

Joe Biden speaks with Jens Stoltenberg during the summit. Reuters

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson. PA

Mr Biden is greeted by Mr Stoltenberg as he arrives for meetings with Nato allies in the Belgian capital. AP Photo

Mr Johnson addresses media representatives after he arrives in Brussels. AFP

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the press in Brussels. AFP

Mr Macron shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AFP

Mr Stoltenberg at Nato's headquarters in Brussels. AFP

Mr Erdogan with officials including Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as he arrives in Brussels. AFP

Mr Macron arriving at the summit. AFP

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday categorically denied that Turkey was planning to send controversially bought Russian-made S-400 air defence systems to Ukraine.

There had been reports that Turkey's Nato allies had suggested the transfer to aid Ukraine's war effort.

But the Turkish leader told journalists aboard a flight back from the Nato summit in Brussels that his position on the Russian defence system was unchanged, reported broadcaster Haberturk.

The US imposed sanctions on Turkey's defence industry in December 2020 over the purchase of the S-400 system and expelled Ankara from the F-35 stealth fighter jet programme, where it was a manufacturer and buyer. Ankara said those measures were unjust.

Nato allies said the purchase was incompatible with the defence alliance’s integrated weapons procurement and expressed fears that the Russian systems could give Moscow insight into how to spot the stealth F-35 joint strike fighter.

Reuters last week reported that the US had informally discussed the idea that Turkey could transfer its S-400 systems to Ukraine, which relies heavily on Russian military equipment despite massive arms flows from the West since the war started a month ago.

In exchange, Reuters suggested, the US would drop sanctions and reverse its suspension of Turkey’s part in the development and purchase of F-35 jets.

Asked about the reports on Friday, Mr Erdogan reportedly denied the idea had been raised and said of Washington: “All they do is cause commotion.”

However, the Turkish president added that talks with Washington on buying new F-16 jets and kits were going well. He said he hoped the talks would yield results soon.

The president said he also discussed the possibility of buying SAMP/T missile defence systems from the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium with France's President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the summit.