Russia and Turkey hold talks on transferring S-400 missile systems to third country
Moscow and Ankara are negotiating the potential resale of Turkey's Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to an allied third party, seeking to resolve a dispute with the United States.
Kremlin confirms ongoing transfer talks
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, that Moscow and Ankara are actively negotiating the potential transfer of Turkey's Russian-made S-400 air defense missile systems to a third country. Peskov addressed the negotiations during his daily press briefing in Moscow, confirming that both administrations are in regular dialogue regarding the equipment.
Peskov outlined the current status of the bilateral talks during his daily conference.
This topic is on the agenda. Appropriate work and appropriate contacts are underway.
The discussions follow years of diplomatic friction over Turkey's possession of the Russian weaponry, which has remained inactive except for localized testing.
Russian conditions for resale
The official confirmation follows statements made on Saturday, 26 September 2026, by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov indicated that Moscow could potentially grant permission for Turkey to resell the S-400 surface-to-air systems, provided that the purchasing nation meets strict diplomatic conditions established by the Russian government.
Under the requirements outlined by Moscow, any recipient state must be a responsible country maintaining friendly relations and alliance ties with Russia. Furthermore, Lavrov specified that Russia will review any formal request and require the recipient nation to provide explicit guarantees that the air defense systems will not be subsequently transferred to another country. Turkey cannot execute a re-export independently, as Ankara lacks a re-export license and must obtain formal consent from Moscow.
- Turkey purchases Russian S-400 air defense missile systems.
- The United States removes Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program.
- Washington imposes sanctions on Turkey over the S-400 acquisition.
- Sergey Lavrov states Russia could allow an S-400 resale to a friendly third country.
- Dmitry Peskov confirms active talks between Moscow and Ankara regarding the transfer.
Background of the S-400 procurement
Turkey, a NATO member state, purchased the S-400 missile systems from Russia in 2017 during a period of escalating diplomatic friction between Ankara and Washington. Although Turkey took delivery of the batteries, the military never deployed the systems in operational missions, keeping them restricted entirely to test procedures.
The 2017 transaction created substantial fallout for Turkey's defense relationships with Western partners. In 2019, the United States government excluded Ankara from the multinational F-35 fighter jet program, preventing Turkey from receiving fifth-generation aircraft that it had already funded. In 2020, Washington followed with formal sanctions against Turkey, which also hindered the delivery of American F110 engines intended for Turkey's domestically developed KAAN fighter jet.
Ankara's efforts to resolve the dispute
The Turkish government has spent years seeking a negotiated resolution to the prolonged dispute over the S-400 systems and its exclusion from the F-35 program. Transferring the Russian hardware to an approved third party offers a potential path to resolve the stand-off with the United States while complying with contractual obligations to Moscow.
Negotiations between Russian and Turkish officials remain in progress to determine whether a suitable recipient can be finalized under Moscow's conditions. Turkish authorities require Russian clearance to offload the systems, while Moscow continues to review the diplomatic alignment and security commitments of prospective destination countries.
