Türkiye's attempt to sell ballistic missile ammunition to Ukraine was delayed

A new detail has been reached regarding Turkey's attempt to sell a heavy ammunition package, including ballistic missiles, to Ukraine.

BRAKE PRESSED

According to the information Cumhuriyet obtained from a high-level source, the sales process will take longer. The source said that an additional decision regarding the sale must be made by the US Congress, certain procedures will be followed and these will take time. However, in the Congress minutes, it was written, "Estimated transfer date: Immediately after the completion of the Congress notification period." This period expired on August 18 and the Congress process ended. The difference between the official document and the source's statement indicated that Ankara put on the brakes in order to establish balance with Moscow.

THERE WAS A REACTION FROM RUSSIA

The attempt to sell ammunition was revealed in the US Congressional report dated August 6. While Turkey requested permission from the USA, the origin of the products, to sell the M270 MLRS multi-barreled rocket launcher system, M26 DPICM unguided dual-purpose advanced conventional ammunition rocket, M509A1 203 millimeter dual-purpose advanced conventional howitzer ammunition and M39 ATACMS army tactical ballistic missile systems in its inventory to Ukraine, this step drew the reaction of Moscow. Russian Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mariya Zaharova had called on Turkey to withdraw from this sale, saying, "It was a heavy blow to bilateral relations."

'IF ANKARA CROSSES THE LIMIT...'

While this issue was not mentioned in the statements regarding the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, last week, the Russian state media RT said before the meeting, "It is time for Ankara to evaluate the risk balances calmly. The ATACMS missile transfer is a test for the entire structure of Russia-Turkey relations. If the weapons reach Kiev, it will no longer be possible to maintain the previous level of trust. Moscow wants Ankara to accept an acceptable position." "He will stop seeing himself as a mediator, the desire to take Turkish interests into account in regional issues will decrease, and bilateral relations will become more strict and completely pragmatic." The phrase "If Ankara crosses the border" was also used. On the other hand, Cumhuriyet stated that this sale could normally have been divided into parts and taken place without being announced to the Congress and therefore to the public, but the incident was publicized as a result of bureaucratic "incompetence".