Russia Questions US, Turkey over Potential Ukraine Arms Deal
Russia sought explanations from Washington and Ankara over a reported transfer of 70 ATACMS missiles and other U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, officials said.
- On Saturday, Russia formally asked the United States and Turkey to explain reports of a potential transfer of a "substantial arsenal" of U.S.-made weapons from Turkish stockpiles to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
- Turkey requested permission from Washington last week to transfer tens of thousands of cluster munitions rockets produced under a 1987 U.S. license; neither nation is a signatory to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.
- According to U.S. Congress data cited by Zakharova, the proposed transfer includes 12 missile launchers, 70 ATACMS tactical missiles, and around 50,000 rounds of ammunition, with the official describing the deal as opening a "Pandora's box."
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also pressed Washington on Friday for clarification regarding intelligence sharing to support strikes inside Russian territory, while Zakharova noted supplying weapons undermines mutual trust despite Turkey's previous assurances.
- As Monday marks six months since the last round of U.S.-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Human Rights Watch warned that around 40% of these bomblets become "de facto anti-personnel landmines" that endanger civilians long-term.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Turkey's plan to sell heavy ammunition, including ballistic missiles, to Ukraine as a "severe blow to bilateral relations" and questioned "what they were thinking," adding that they had requested an explanation from Turkey. The Turkish Foreign Ministry declined to comment, and also left Cumhuriyet's question on the matter unanswered.
On Saturday, 15 August 2026, Russia requested explanations from the United States and Turkey regarding the transfer to Ukraine of ATACMS tactical missiles and other ammunition, currently held by Turkey.
Russia cautions Turkey against sending weapons to Ukraine
Russia has asked Washington and Ankara for explanations over reports that a significant quantity of US weapons and ammunition held in Turkey could be transferred to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday. Zakharova warned that such a move could damage relations between Russia and both the United States and Turkey. “Such […]
Russia expresses its concern at an imminent transfer of US weapons to Ukraine by Turkey, revealed by Congress documents. This batch includes 70 ATACMS missile systems. Moscow fears that this...
Moscow showed itself on Saturday dissatisfied with the American-Turkish agreement on weapons for Ukraine, the spokesman of the Russian MAE, Maria Zaharova, stating that the agreement only "will postpone the conclusion of the Kiev regime. Zaharova, quoted by the Russian press agency TASS, said that the authorities of the United States and Turkey "so opened another box of Pandora, ...
Maria Zacharova requests clarification from Washington and Ankara and suggests "a sober assessment of the situation".
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