Lavrov Says Turkey Must Guarantee S-400 Systems Won’t Reach Ukraine

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of last week’s UN General Assembly (UNGA), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia was willing to consider allowing Turkey to transfer its S-400 air defense systems to a third country. However, Moscow would seek cast iron guarantees that they would not be given to Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to the Turkish Hurriyet news agency, he claimed that “there is such a possibility when a country where these S-400 systems will be moved to is responsible and maintains friendly relations with Russia” Asked if the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is one country said to be interested in acquiring the systems, was acceptable Lavrov said that Russia was prepared to consider such proposals but had not received a specific request. Lavrov then went on to say that the potential recipient would provide assurances that the S-400 systems would not be sent to a third country to prevent any transfer to Ukraine. In 2024, at the 79th UNGA session, Lavrov had stated that under the terms of the end-user certificate provided with the missile systems, it was legally impossible for Ankara to sell the S-400s to another country or otherwise dispose of them without Russia’s approval. F-35 program blocked by possession of S-400s In July, the US digital news site Semafor reported that Turkey’s purchase of F-35 fighter aircraft was “at a standstill” as Ankara had been unable to divest itself of the S-400 systems. Other Topics of Interest South Korea Demands Apology From Ukraine Over Disclosure of North Korean POW Transfer Seoul said it was reviewing additional measures over the dispute if necessary, adding that Ukraine’s denial of the confidentiality arrangement had seriously damaged trust between the two governments. US President Donald Trump had announced the deal, alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at June’s NATO summit. However, under current US sanctions regulations, Turkey must get rid of Russian air defense systems before access to the F-35s, six of which were paid for in 2019, will be granted. Republican Sen. Rick Scott (Fla) told Semafor: “I don’t think they should have F-35s unless they’re going to be a true partner,” adding that “if they have the S-400, they cannot have the F-35.” Another complicating factor was the objections voiced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that providing F-35s would “destroy the power balance in the Middle East.” The news publication commented that these objections were likely to be supported by Scott’s pro-Israeli colleagues and could also apply to the UAE. Ways out of the impasse Turkey purchased two of the S-400 Triumf (NATO: SA-21 Growler) mobile surface-to-air missile systems and around 120 missiles as part of its long-range regional air defense program. Each system is made up of a command post, surveillance, and acquisition radars, and up to eight transporter-erector-launchers. The defense issues think tank Chatham House summarized the dilemma facing Turkey in its July 28 discussion paper and posited four alternatives along with the pros and cons of each. In summary these were: Deactivate the systems by removing essential components which could be stored at a site controlled by the US. Return the weapons systems to Russia, a plan which Moscow declined. Destroy the systems – a solution which would have presented both economic and internal political difficulties. Selling to a third party, a process that Russia would insist on controlling. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.