MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the possibility Ankara may purchase Russian defensive weapons, including the S-400 air defense systems, when they meet in Moscow on March 9-10, Turkish presidential adviser Ilnur Cevik told Russia’s round-the-clock television news channel Rossiya-24.
"Economic cooperation between two countries stands first: cooperation in trade, tourism and, of course, the building of a nuclear power plant. Plus Turkey’s defense industry relations issue with Russia is also going to be discussed, including the sale of anti-aircraft systems S-400," he said.
"Some people in NATO say ‘don’t do it’, but we say: ‘Look, some countries in NATO are also using Russian weaponry and defense systems’," Celik remarked.
Earlier, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Turkish NTV channel’s report Erdogan would visit Moscow on March 9-10.
According to the newscast, Putin and Erdogan will have a meeting in private. A meeting of the Russian-Turkish High Level Cooperation Council will follow. A wide range of issues will be discussed, including the possibility of selling S-400 air defense systems to Turkey.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin earlier said the two leaders might discuss prospects for a S-400 contract.