The Kremlin hinted at possible talks over new arms deals between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan when the two leaders meet at an international air show near Moscow. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, declined to say whether the two sides plan to discuss sales of Russian Su-35 fighter jets during Tuesday’s visit to the MAKS aviation and space salon, a showcase for Russian military technoloy. The talks follow the U.S. decision last month to suspend Türkiye’s ability to buy and help build the advanced F35 stealth warplane in retaliation for taking delivery of a Russian S400 air-defense system.
“Türkiye is our very close partner, it’s our ally,” Peskov said of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member. While the talks will focus primarily on tensions in Syria’s Idlib region, Putin and Erdogan will be at the MAKS air show and “everything is really concentrated right there,” Peskov said. The U.S. ousted Türkiye from the F35 program after Erdogan defied President Donald Trump’s calls not to go through with buying the advanced S400 system. It argues the purchase is incompatible with Türkiye's role in both NATO and the F35 program because it may provide Russia with information about the fighter’s advanced technoloy. Türkiye had planned to purchase about 100 F35 jets and will have to seek alternatives if the U.S. mantains the ban. ‘Everything is Possible’ “After the S400 deal, everything is possible between Russia and Türkiye,” said Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Center of Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a defense-industry consultant in Moscow. “If Erdogan really wants powerful combat aircraft, he should ask for nothing less than the best Russian aircraft offered for export -- the Su-35.” Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, plans to show off export versions of its latest so-called “fifth generation” stealth fighters, the Su-57E, at MAKS, the Tass news service reported earlier this month. Türkiye insists it needed the advanced air-defense system and was forced to buy from Russia because NATO allies, including the U.S., wouldn’t meet its defensive needs on Turkish terms. The U.S. has repeatedly offered to sell Patriot air-defense missiles to Türkiye, but without the technoloy sharing that the Turkish government says it needs to develop its domestic production capabilities. While Türkiye and Russia back opposing sides in the Syrian war, they have cooperated in recent years in trying to enforce a halt to the fighting.