Russia will start delivering its S-400 missile defense system to Turkey in July according to the head of Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing the Interfax news agency.
“Everything has already been discussed and agreed,” Alexander Mikheev told Interfax.
The United States has warned that the S-400s will jeopardize the new generation F-35 fighter jets Turkey aims to buy and threatened to impose sanctions if Turkey seals the deal with Russia.
Ankara has said its purchase should not trigger sanctions as Turkey is not an adversary of Washington and remains committed to the NATO alliance.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has reiterated his government’s position that the S-400s are a done deal, the Diken news website reported.
“The S-400s we are purchasing will not perceive NATO systems as hostile,” Çavuşoğlu said.
