Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran has refuted media reports claiming that the United States has given Ankara a two-week ultimatum to terminate its contract on the acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems or otherwise face penalties
ANKARA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd May, 2019) Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran has refuted media reports claiming that the United States has given Ankara a two-week ultimatum to terminate its contract on the acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems or otherwise face penalties.
The CNBC broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Washington had given Ankara just over two weeks to give up its S-400 deal with Russia or else risk sanctions and losing the possibility of buying US F-35 fighter jets.
"There has been no such thing [an ultimatum] at the official level," Kiran said during his visit to the United States this week, as quoted by the Haberturk broadcaster.
The United States has repeatedly warned Ankara against buying the Russian air defense systems, saying that they are incompatible with NATO systems and may expose weaknesses of the F-35 jets to Russia's advantage. Turkey, in turn, has insisted that it is not going to give up its $2.5 billion contract with Russia. The first batch of S-400s is expected to be delivered to Turkey in July.
