Ankara, May 29: Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar has on Wednesday the country has not yet received an ultimatum from the United States over Russian S-400 defence missile system deal.
According to Sputnik news reports, Akra’s remarks come amidst reports stating the US has put forth an ultimatum to Ankara, threatening to throw Turkey out of an F-35 fighter jet programme if the government of Turkey doesn’t completely abandon the Russian systems deal.
Asked how Ankara would react if the US imposes sanctions on the nation, the minister stressed he does not want to comment over the “assumptions”.
Emphasizing that Ankara has completely paid for the deliveries of F-35 fighter jets from Washington, and that the Turkish pilots have already started to train themselves on the new fighter jets, Akar said, “We are acting in full compliance with the commitments we have undertaken.”
Meanwhile, the US was considering to suspend training for Turkish pilots as both sides have been at loggerheads since the past months, according to two unnamed sources having the knowledge of the issue told Reuters.
Moreover, the US state department and the Pentagon are yet to comment over the claims.
Turkey has reiterated its refusal to US ultimatums for not buying Russian S-400s and instead buy American Patriot system. However, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Kremlin, has on Wednesday condemned the US ultimatum by terming the move as “unacceptable”, as per Sputnik news reports.
Also read: US warns ‘negative’ repercussions if Turkey finalizes Russian S-400 deal
The United States has on May 23 cautioned Turkey will have to face “very real and very negative consequences” if it finalizes its purchase deal with Russia for S-400s missile defence system.
The US state department said, “We have said that the S-400 defence system, the acquisition of that would have serious consequences for the US and NATO’s defence relationship with Turkey.”
Also read: Russia condemns US threat to abolish Turkey from F-35 programme as ‘unacceptable’
Kremlin has on Wednesday condemned the United States threat to abolish Turkey from a program creating F-35 multi-role fighters because of its deal to purchase Russian S-400 missile defense system, stating such ultimatums by the US is “unacceptable”.
Kremlin condemnation comes hours after Ankara stated it was preparing for possing US sanctions on the nation over its deal to buy Russian missile defense system.