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'Clear Answer': Turkey on Whether US Sanctions Will Break S-400 Deal With Russia

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Ankara's stance on the delivery of Russian S-400 missile defense systems to Turkey hasn't changed despite Washington's sanctions against the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport.
Sputnik

When asked whether the US sanctions will affect the delivery of the S-400 systems to Turkey, a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Sputnik that "on this topic, our president [Erdogan] gave a clear answer."

On Friday, the United States slapped a number of sanctions on 38 Russian individuals and entities, including Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport as well as senior Russian government officials and businessmen.

READ MORE: Erdogan Slams NATO's Negative Reaction to S-400 Deal With Russia

Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Ankara earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that "the S-400 deal is made, and this matter is closed."

Putin, for his part, pointed out that Moscow and Ankara had agreed to speed up the delivery of the S-400 systems to Turkey.

In another development this week, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that "work for delivery of Russian S-400 missile defense systems [to Turkey] in 2019 has been finalized," according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News.

READ MORE: Erdogan Says Turkey's Deal With Russia on S-400 Supplies 'Made US Furious'

Turkey Explains Why It Preferred Russia's S-400 Missiles to US Patriots
Russia and Turkey clinched a loan deal on Ankara's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in December 2017.

The agreement stipulates that Russia will supply Turkey with four batteries of S-400s; the missile launch systems will be maintained by Turkish personnel. The initial delivery of the batteries is scheduled for the first quarter of 2020.

The S-400 is capable of engaging up to six targets and destroying them at a distance of up to 250 miles (402 kilometers). The system is equipped with tracking and search radar systems, eight launchers, 112 guided missiles, as well as command and support vehicles.

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