US Gave Turkey No Official Ultimatum to Ditch S-400 Deal - Turkish Deputy FM

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran has refuted media reports claiming that the United States has given Ankara a two-week ultimatum to terminate its contract on the acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems or otherwise face penalties.

"There has been no such thing [an ultimatum] at the official level," Kiran said during his visit to the United States this week, as quoted by the Haberturk broadcaster.

The CNBC broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Washington had given Ankara just over two weeks to give up its S-400 deal with Russia or else risk sanctions and losing the possibility of buying US F-35 fighter jets.    

In December 2017, Moscow and Ankara signed a loan agreement for the delivery of S-400 air defence systems to Turkey. The United States has repeatedly warned Ankara against buying the Russian air defence systems, saying that they are incompatible with NATO systems and may expose weaknesses of the F-35 jets to Russia's advantage.

READ MORE: Germany Wants Turkey to Drop S-400 Missile Systems Deal With Russia — Official

The United States earlier threatened Turkey with sanctions for its planned acquisition of S-400s and repeatedly said it may delay or cancel the sales of  F-35 aircraft to Ankara.     

Turkey, in turn, has insisted that it is not going to give up its $2.5 billion contract with Russia. Ankara underlined that the purchase of defensive weapons is its sovereign affair and has ruled out the possibility of abandoning plans to complete the purchase.

The first batch of S-400s is expected to be delivered to Turkey in July.