New Delhi: Russia has asked the US and Türkiye to explain reports that Ankara could transfer a large stockpile of US-origin weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Moscow has warned that such a move could cause “serious harm” to its relations with Washington and Ankara.
Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Saturday that Moscow had sought clarification from both countries over the reported transfer. She said Washington and Ankara still had time to assess the situation, according to Russian state media.
The weapons have not yet been reported as delivered to Ukraine. The immediate issue is a proposed transfer of US-origin weapons from Turkish stocks and the approval process surrounding it.
What weapons are involved?
Reports indicate that Türkiye has sought permission from Washington to transfer weapons and ammunition that have been held in its stockpiles for decades. Some of the ammunition was produced in Türkiye under a US licence issued in 1987.
The proposed package includes, 12 M270 multiple launch rocket system launchers, 70 M39 Atacms tactical ballistic missiles, 2,524 M26 unguided rockets and 47,000 M509A1 203mm artillery rounds, according to details from the US congressional notification cited in reports.
The inclusion of Atacms is notable because the missiles give Ukraine a longer-range strike capability. The M39 variant is designed to carry a cluster warhead.
The reported package also contains cluster munitions. The US and Türkiye are not parties to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of such weapons.
Why are these US weapons in Türkiye?
Türkiye has maintained a large inventory of US-origin military equipment through its long defence relationship with Washington. It has also been a Nato member since 1952, making it part of the alliance’s military structure while maintaining an independent defence policy.
The current proposal is therefore different from a fresh US arms shipment directly to Ukraine. It involves weapons already held by Türkiye being transferred to Kyiv, subject to the required US process.
The US state department submitted the notification to Congress on August 3, and it was published in the Congressional Record on August 6. The deal is valued at roughly $300 million, according to Kyiv Post.
The transfer is subject to a mandatory 30-calendar-day congressional review period under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, during which lawmakers can raise objections. With the notification published on August 6, that places the earliest possible transfer date in early September, not before.
The weapons would not move as a direct government-to-government shipment. They would instead be handled through a network of private companies, including Turkish firms MKE A.S., ASFAT A.S. and ARCA Savunma, Bulgarian company VTIC International, and US firms Pansophico and Patriot Defense Group, according to Türkiye Today.
Why is Russia objecting?
Moscow’s objection comes down to both the weapons themselves and their effect on Russia’s relations with Türkiye and the US.
Zakharova said the reported transfer would cause “serious harm” to Russia’s bilateral relations with Washington and Ankara. Russia has also sought clarification over how the proposed deal came about.
For Ukraine, the proposed package would add additional rocket launchers, missiles and ammunition to an arsenal already being used against Russian forces.
For Russia, the transfer would represent further military support for Kyiv from a country that has continued to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow.
Where does Türkiye stand in the Russia-Ukraine war?
Türkiye has maintained a distinct position since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ankara has supplied Ukraine with military equipment, including Bayraktar TB2 drones, and has rejected Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory. At the same time, Türkiye did not join Western sanctions against Russia and has maintained substantial economic, energy and defence ties with Moscow.
The relationship has also been complicated by Türkiye’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defence system. The deal created a major dispute with Washington and led to Türkiye’s removal from the US F-35 fighter programme.
Türkiye has nevertheless kept channels open with both sides and has sought to play a diplomatic role in the conflict. It hosted Russian and Ukrainian delegations for talks in Istanbul in 2022 and helped broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative with the United Nations, which facilitated Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.
For now, Russia has responded by seeking clarification from Washington and Ankara and warning of consequences for bilateral ties. Türkiye and the US have yet to publicly confirm that the reported transfer has taken place.