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Turkish defense minister notes progress at talks with Russia on S-400 air defense systems

"There is progress in the talks but the sides have not yet reached the stage of putting their signatures today," Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said

ANKARA, March 15. /TASS/. Moscow and Ankara have achieved progress at the talks on the possible sale of Russian-made S-400 antiaircraft missile systems but the negotiations have not yet reached the stage of signing a specific deal, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on Wednesday.

"There is progress in the talks but the sides have not yet reached the stage of putting their signatures today. The negotiations on this issue are continuing," the news agency Anadolu quoted the Turkish defense minister as saying on the possible sale of S-400 antiaircraft missile systems.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Izvestia daily earlier on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed during their talks in Moscow last week the possibility of delivering S-400 systems to Turkey.

Read also

Russia may sign contract with India on S-400 air defense system delivery

According to the paper’s data, the Turkish side is discussing a possible contract and specifying the equipment set of S-400 supplies.

Russia’s hi-tech corporation Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov said on Tuesday Turkey had expressed its wish to obtain a loan from Russia for the purchase of armament, including S-400 antiaircraft missile systems. Chemezov said in February that Turkey was showing interest in S-400 systems and the sides were negotiating possible deliveries.

The S-400 Triumf is the newest long-range antiaircraft missile system that went into service in 2007.

It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and can also be used against ground objectives.

The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.

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