Is Turkey Violating Russian Sanctions?

Haydarpasa Port, Turkey. V&A Dudush (CC BY 3.0) 

 Euronews: Turkey faces scrutiny as exports to Russia surge, fuelling concerns of sanctions evasion  

Turkey's significant increase in exports of critical goods to Russia sparks fears of sanctions evasion, leading to urgent diplomatic discussions and potential ramifications for Turkey's relations with NATO. 

Turkish exports of essential goods to Russia, crucial for Moscow's military production, have experienced a significant spike in 2023. 

This surge has intensified worries about potential sanctions circumvention, with the United States and the European Union actively seeking to curb Russia's access to dual-use goods through third-party nations.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Turkey's exports of military-linked goods to Russia soar (Financial Times) 

Update #2: Soaring Turkish Exports of Military-Linked Goods to Russia Raise Western Concerns – FT (Moscow Times)  

WNU Editor: Much to the displeasure of some, Europe is still buying Russian natural gas via through Turkey .... Europe Is Getting Record Amounts of Russian Gas Through TurkStream. So Who Keeps Trying to Blow It Up? (Naked Capitalism).

Russian Foreign Ministry Responds To Turkish President Erdogan's Remarks That The West Is Silent On The Death Of Palestinians In Gaza

Erdogan, Zakharova and Israel

Erdogan:
“Now 11 thousand children and women have been killed, the world is silent. First of all, because the USA and the West are silent.”

Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry:
"Recep, you too remained silent when the West, through Kyiv,… pic.twitter.com/dUYLNzN4IK

— Victor vicktop55 (@vicktop55) November 11, 2023

WNU Editor: What goes round comes around.

Erdogan Announces Trip To Russia Where He'll Seek To Restore Grain Deal With Putin

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Turkey's President Erdogan meet on the sidelines CICA summit in Astana © Thomson Reuters

#Turkish President #Erdogan will reportedly meet #Russia's Putin next week.

▪️Erdogan could possibly go to Russia on Sept. 8, before traveling to India to attend the Group of 20 Summit in New Delhi, officials said. pic.twitter.com/ASgvefFol1

— EHA News (@eha_news) August 28, 2023

 

Bloomberg: Erdogan Plans to Meet Putin Next Week to Discuss Grain Deal  

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to meet Vladimir Putin in Russia next week to discuss reviving the Black Sea grain deal. 

Erdogan could possibly go to Russia on Sept. 8, before traveling to India to attend the Group of 20 Summit in New Delhi, according two Turkish officials familiar with the matter. The Turkish presidency declined to comment. 

Erdogan wants the deal, which allowed Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea and which Russia pulled out of last month, to be restarted. Global wheat prices have been volatile since then and especially after Russia targeted some Ukrainian crop-export infrastructure with drones. Erdogan is working to make sure that the world doesn’t face a food crisis, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, said Monday.  

Read more .... 

Update #1: Turkey's Erdogan to visit Russia 'soon' to discuss grain deal (Reuters)  

Update #2: Erdogan Announces Russia Trip Where He'll Seek To Restore Grain Deal With Putin (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: I have doubts that the grain deal will be restored. The West has shown no interest to meet Russian demands that their grain exports will not be impeded by Western sanctions.

Russian President Putin And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Have Agreed That Putin Will Visit Turkey "Soon"

 

Reuters: Russia, Turkey agree on Putin visit to Turkey 'soon' -Ifax cites Kremlin aide 

MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed that the Russian leader will visit Turkey "soon", Interfax cited a Kremlin aide as saying on Friday. 

The visit would be Putin's first to a NATO country since he ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Putin has only rarely traveled outside Russia since the beginning of full-scale hostilities. 

 "There is an invitation from the president of Turkey. Putin and Erdogan agreed that the visit will be in the near future, but we have not yet talked about a specific day, specific dates," Interfax cited Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov as saying.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Details on when this meeting will take place have yet to be discussed .... No preparations for Putin's planned visit to Turkey yet — Kremlin aide (TASS). 

 Russian President Putin And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Have Agreed That Putin Will Visit Turkey "Soon"  

Russian President Putin to visit Türkiye for talks with Erdoğan -- Daily Sabah  

Putin Plans to Leave Russia to Visit NATO Ally -- Newsweek  

Kremlin confirms Putin plans to visit Türkiye -- Ukrainska Pravda  

Russia, Turkey agree on Putin visit 'soon': Kremlin aide -- New Arab

Turkey’s Main Opposition Candidate Accuses Russia Of Spreading Conspiracies And Deep Fakes Online Ahead Of Sunday's Election

Turkish presidential candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, holds a rally in Bursa in advance of Sunday’s presidential poll. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters  

The Guardian: Turkish opposition accuses Russia of election interference days before vote 

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the chief rival to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, makes claims in advance of presidential poll on Sunday 

Turkey’s leading opposition candidate has accused Russia of election interference days before the country’s most consequential vote in a generation. 

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of the Republican People’s party (CHP), the chief rival to the incumbent president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accused Russia of concocting deepfake videos and false material, seemingly a reference to an allegedly fake sex tape of candidate Muharrem İnce, released a day before he dropped out of the race.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Kremlin has responded .... Moscow responds to claims Russia interfering in Turkish election (RT). More here .... Kremlin Denies Meddling Ahead of Turkey’s Knife-Edge Elections (Bloomberg). 

Turkey’s Main Opposition Candidate Accuses Russia Of Spreading Conspiracies And Deep Fakes Online Ahead Of Sunday's Election  

Erdogan rival says has evidence of Russia's online campaign ahead of Turkey vote -- Reuters  

Turkish opposition leader accuses Russia of spreading conspiracies, deep fakes ahead of election -- Politico  

Turkey’s main opposition candidate accuses Russia of election interference -- CNN  

Turkey's Kilicdaroglu accuses Russia of creating 'deepfakes' against opposition -- Al-Monitor  

US interfering in Türkiye’s elections – Ankara -- RT

Turkey's Foreign Minister Says Erdogan, Putin, And Assad Will Meet After January 2023

A meeting between the Turkish, Syrian, and Russian leaders has been scheduled, but not for January, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.  

Sputnik: Turkish Foreign Minister Says Erdogan, Putin, Assad to Meet After January 2023 

ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - A meeting between the Turkish, Syrian and Russian leaders has been scheduled, but not for January, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. 

On December 15, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he had offered to Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a meeting between the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Syria, which will be preceded by a meeting of the heads of the intelligence services, defense and foreign ministries. 

On December 28, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the defense ministers of Russia, Syria and Turkey held trilateral talks in Moscow to discuss ways to resolve the Syrian crisis.  

Read more ....  

Update: Erdogan, Putin, Assad to meet after January 2023 (MEHR News Agency)  

WNU Editor: No official word yet from Moscow or Damascus.

Turkey's Erdogan Wants A Summit With Assad And Putin. Will This Be The End Of The Syrian Civil War?

The two leaders have held frequent discussions over the years [File: Turkish presidential press/Handout via AFP] 

Al-Monitor: Turkey's Erdogan seeking a meeting with Assad and Putin 

In a reversal, Erdogan wants Russia to set-up a three-way meeting with Bashar Al-Assad, ten years after Ankara calling for his removal from power 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that his country was seeking three-way meetings between Ankara, Moscow and Damascus, a fresh addition to Turkey’s efforts to restore its ties with the Syrian government of Bashar Al-Assad, ten years after relations broke off between them. 

“We want to take a tripartite step as Syria-Turkey-Russia,” Erdogan told reporters during his return from Turkmenistan, adding that the three countries' defense and foreign ministers could come together first.  

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WNU Editor: Syrian President Assad said no to such a meeting two weeks ago .... Assad rejects Russia attempt to arrange meeting with Erdogan, sources say (Middle East Monitor). But Russia wants this meeting, and I would not be surprised if this meeting does take place. 

If this summit happens, it will be the beginning of the end for this long and horrible war. 

The US response to these possible talks has been a reinforcement of their military presence in north-eastern Syria. 

 Turkey's Erdogan Wants A Summit With Assad And Putin  

Turkey Seeks a Trilateral Mechanism With Russia, Syria -Erdogan -- Reuters 

Erdogan Seeks to Hold a Summit with Putin, Assad -- Asharq Al-Awsat  

Erdoğan's quest for trilateral Syria diplomacy -- Daily Sabah

Erdogan And Putin Discuss Grain Corridor, Gas Deal And Clearing Kurdish Forces In Northern Syria

The two leaders have held frequent discussions over the years [File: Turkish presidential press/Handout via AFP]

Al Jazeera: Erdogan, Putin discuss Syria border corridor, gas hub by phone 

Turkey’s president reiterated the necessity of establishing a buffer zone in accordance with a 2019 agreement with Russia, his office says. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, in which he called for a 30-kilometre (19-mile) security corridor at the Turkish border with Syria, according to his office. 

The two leaders also discussed grain supplies and a potential regional gas hub in Turkey on Sunday, December 11, both countries said. 

Read more .... 

Erdogan And Putin Discuss Grain Corridor, Gas Deal And Clearing Kurdish Forces In Northern Syria  

Erdogan and Putin discuss grain corridor, gas deal and Syria -- DW 

Erdogan tells Putin to 'clear' Kurdish forces from northern Syria -- France 24  

Northern Syria needs 'clearing' of Kurdish forces: Erdogan tells Putin -- Euronews  

Ankara and Moscow disclose information about conversation between Erdogan and Putin -- Ukrayinska Pravda  

Erdogan discusses Black Sea grain deal with Putin, Zelenskiy -- Reuters

Is A De Facto Russia - Turkey Alliance Taking Shape?

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, right, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during their meeting on sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 

Reuters: Turkey Backs Putin Gas Plan as Nord Stream Faces Long Outage 

LONDON (Reuters) - Large sections of the damaged Nord Stream pipelines built to supply gas to Europe might need to be replaced, the head of Gazprom said, while Turkey on Friday backed Russian proposals to build a gas hub there as an alternative supply route. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week proposed Turkey as a base for gas supplies after the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea were damaged last month by blasts. 

The European Union, which previously turned to Russia for about 40% of its gas needs, is however seeking to wean itself off Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine in February. 

Major EU importers such as Germany and Italy have found alterative sources and built up gas stocks ahead of a winter that is likely to be tough because of sky-high energy prices and the fear of rationing and power cuts.  

Read more ....  

Update: 'No Waiting': Turkey, Russia to Act on Putin's Gas Hub Offer (AP)  

WNU Editor: Erdogan's language in supporting Putin's offer of becoming a gas hub is shocking. Complete support of the gas hub, and praise of Putin. To say that the EU and the US are probably furious is an understatement. 

A major geopolitical shift has just occurred and I will not be surprised if in the coming months there is going to be a push from the West to punish Turkey and to support those who oppose Erdogan in Turkey. 

So what does this all mean.

 My gut tells me that Erdogan has made the calculation that when the Russia - Ukraine war is over, Russia will be on top. He appears to be someone who wants to make sure that Turkey is well positioned to take advantage of its relationship with Russia if that finally occurs.

Erdogan Backs Putin Gas Pipeline Hub Proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during their meeting on sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)  

Reuters: Turkey backs Putin gas plan as Nord Stream faces long outage 

LONDON (Reuters) - Large sections of the damaged Nord Stream pipelines built to supply gas to Europe might need to be replaced, the head of Gazprom said, while Turkey on Friday backed Russian proposals to build a gas hub there as an alternative supply route. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week proposed Turkey as a base for gas supplies after the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea were damaged last month by blasts. 

The European Union, which previously turned to Russia for about 40% of its gas needs, is however seeking to wean itself off Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine in February. 

Read more ....  

Update #1: Erdogan says Turkey and Russia to study Putin’s gas hub proposal (Al Jazeera)  

Update #2: Erdogan Eager To Act On Putin's Offer To Make Turkey A 'Gas Hub' (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: Not surprising that Erdogan is all in on it. It would mean billions in revenue to Turkey, and leverage over Europe should the EU find itself in an energy crunch.

Bowing To US Pressure, Turkey's Banks Abandon Russia'a MIR Payment System

EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV / EPA / TASS  

Moscow Times: All Turkish Banks Halt Russia’s Mir Payment System – Reports 

Three Turkish state banks plan to exit Russia’s Mir payments system over U.S. warnings of sanctions, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed senior Turkish official. 

On Wednesday, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported there were no banks left in Turkey that accept Mir, which translates as "World" from Russian. Turkiye Halk Bankası, TC Ziraat Bankası and Turkiye Vakıflar Bankasi, Bloomberg reports, plan to stop processing payments using Mir following similar decisions by two of Turkey’s major private banks last week.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Turkish banks were given the warning that if they continue to do business with Russia, they would be cut-off from the US financial system. 

Bowing To US Pressure, Turkey's Banks Abandon Russia'a MIR Payment System  

Turkiye banks abandon Russian MIR payment system, bowing to US pressure -- Middle East Monitor  

Turkish state banks halt use of Russian payment system -- Financial Times  

Turkish Banks Cut Russia Banking Ties Under US Pressure -- VOA

Russian President Putin Travels To Tehran This Tuesday For Meetings With Iranian, Turkish Leaders

Russia, Turkey and Iran have in recent years been holding talks as part of the so-called 'Astana peace process' to end more than 11 years of conflict in Syria [File: Reuters] 

Reuters: Putin visits Iran for first trip outside former U.S.S.R. since Ukraine war 

LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Tehran on Tuesday for a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first trip by the Kremlin chief outside the former Soviet Union since the invasion of Ukraine. 

Putin casts the West's attempt to cripple Russia's economy with the most severe sanctions in recent history as a declaration of economic war and says Russia is turning away from the West to China, India and Iran. 

Just three days after U.S. President Joe Biden finished a visit to Saudi Arabia, Russia's paramount leader arrives in Tehran to hold his fifth meeting with Khamenei, Iran's second supreme leader who came to power in 1989.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Just an observation. If Putin was not comfortable with the progress of the Ukraine war, he would not be going to Tehran. 

Russian President Putin Travels To Tehran This Tuesday For Meetings With Iranian, Turkish Leaders  

Growing Iran-Russia ties in focus as Putin heads to Tehran -- DW  

Putin to travel to Tehran for meetings with Iranian, Turkish leaders -- FOX News  

Putin Seeks to Cement Ties With Iran, Turkey in Rare Trip Abroad -- WSJ 

Putin, Erdogan head to Iran for talks on Syria, future of Middle East -- Jerusalem Post  

As his war on Ukraine rages, Russia’s Putin is set to visit Iran -- Al Jazeera

Ukraine President Zelensky Is Saying Turkey Has Banned Russian Warships From Using The Bosporus And The Dardanelles Straits To Enter The Black Sea?

Russian Navy's Project 22160 Patrol Vessel Dmitriy Rogachev 375 sails through the Bosphorus Strait on the way to the Black Sea past Istanbul's Suleymaniye mosque in the backround on 16 February 2022 (AFP) 

 Ukrinform: Turkey bans passage of Russian warships to Black Sea - Zelensky 

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi broke the news on Instagram, Ukrinform reports. 

The president thanked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people for their strong support of Ukraine.

Read more ....  

Update: Turkey agrees to ban passage of Russian ships to Black Sea - Zelensky (TASS)  

WNU Editor: Turkey is saying there is no ban .... Turkey has not closed Black Sea to Russian warships: Official (Daily Sabah). More here .... Russia-Ukraine war: Turkey denies closing Black Sea to Russian warships (Middle East Eye). 

Here is an interesting read and why Turkey is in a legal bind .... What does the Montreux accord say about closing Black Sea access to Russia? (TRT World).

In A Phone Call With Erdogan, Putin Denounces Ukraine's Use Of Turkish Drones

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russia, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool  

Reuters: Ukraine Uses Turkish Drones in Donbass Conflict Zone, Putin Tells Erdogan 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine is using Turkish-made drones in the conflict zone in the Donbass region, sticking to "destructive" behaviour, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, the Kremlin said. 

Relations between Russia and Ukraine are in the spotlight as Kyiv says Russia amassed thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border and may be gearing up for a military offensive. Moscow denies plans for an offensive operation.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Putin Denounces Ukraine's Use Of Turkish Drones In Erdogan Call (Zero Hedge)  

Update #2: Erdogan, Putin discuss situation in Ukraine (Ukrinform)  

WNU Editor: Turkey's drones have changed the military balance of power in the Ukraine war and it has given Kiev hope that they could pursue a military solution to a conflict that really needs a diplomatic solution to end it. So yes. Putin is annoyed.

Erdoğan And Putin Hold Face-To-Face Talks On Syria

Ahead of this week’s summit first responders in the Idlib area said Syrian air force bombing has again intensified, and the Turkish military has deployed extra troops. Photograph: Vladimir Smirnov/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POO 

The Guardian: Erdoğan and Putin hold face-to-face talks over Syria ceasefire 

Turkey’s president wants to shore up the truce because it has been ruptured repeatedly in the last 18 months 

The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for their first face-to-face talks since the pandemic in which they discussed the future of the last pocket of Syria outside regime control. 

The leaders met in in the Russian Black Sea resort town of Sochi for Wednesday’s summit, in which Erdoğan sought to shore up a March 2020 ceasefire deal which ended a bruising assault by Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies on Turkish-backed fighters in north-west Syria. 

The fighting last year brought Ankara and Moscow close to direct confrontation and threatened Turkey – which is already home to about 4 million Syrians – with a new wave of refugees.  

Read more .... 

More News On Erdoğan And Putin Holding Face-To-Face Talks On Syria  

Turkey, Russia to continue working to solve problems in Syria's Idlib -NTV -- Reuters  

Putin hails 'compromises' with Turkey in talks with Erdogan over Syria, defence -- New Arab  

Turkey’s Erdogan Presses Russia’s Putin to Halt Syria Assault -- WSJ  

Putin, Erdogan hold closed-door summit in Sochi -- Al-Monitor  

Turkey and Russia to preserve status-quo in Syria's Idlib, Turkish official says -- Middle East Eye  

War In Syria Heating Up Again, Prompting Tense Putin-Erdogan Summit -- Zero Hedge

Turkish President Erdogan And Russian President Putin Discuss Future Arms Sales

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kremlin.ru  

Moscow Times: Erdogan, Putin Discussed Warplanes, Submarines Cooperation: Report 

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed deepening defense industry cooperation with Russia during talks with his counterpart Vladimir Putin this week, the Turkish leader was quoted as saying Thursday. 

Erdogan and Putin held their first face-to-face talks in 18 months in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Wednesday, with the Syrian conflict high on their agenda. 

"We had the opportunity to discuss what steps we could take on plane motors, warplanes," the Turkish leader told journalists on his return to Turkey.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: NATO is alarmed by these developments .... Erdogan Alarms NATO Allies: 'Putin Agreed To Jointly Produce Jet Engines, Warships & Submarines' (Zero Hedge). 

More News On Turkish President Erdogan And Russian President Putin Discussing Future Arms Sales  

Turkey to work with Russia on space, submarines and warships, says Erdogan -- Middle East Eye  

Turkey’s move to buy S-400 anti-aircraft system from Russia is due to America's refusal to sell Ankara Patriots, Erdogan explains -- RT  

Turkey and Russia could deepen defence and security ties, says Erdogan -- Financial Times  

Turkey, Russia mull fighter jet, submarine partnership -- Daily Sabah  

Erdogan, Putin Discussed Warplane, Submarine Cooperation -- Bloomberg  

Erdogan says Turkey is looking at further defence steps with Russia -- Reuters 

Erdogan Says No Step Back in Defense Cooperation With Russia -- Bloomberg  

Turkey’s Erdogan says mulling further defense industry steps with Russia – report -- Arab News/Reuters

Is Russian Attacks Against Turkey's Allies In Syria A Warning To Ankara To Back-Off Their Support Of Azerbaijan In Their War Against Armenia

Strategic-Culture: Russian Blitz in Syria Warns Turkey to Back Off in Caucasus 

In an unprecedented show of strength, Russian warplanes this week reportedly launched devastating attacks on a Turkish-backed militant stronghold in northern Syria, killing up to 100 fighters. It was a stunning blow to Ankara’s proxy military assets in the Arab country. 

The airstrikes marked the end of a seven-month ceasefire which Russia had negotiated with Turkey to maintain a de-escalation zone in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province. The Russian-brokered truce was seen as a brake on an offensive by the Syrian army to rout retreating militants in the border region with Turkey whom Ankara has sponsored during the nearly decade-long war in Syria.

In the attacks this week, it was reportedly a joint operation between Syrian armed forces and their Russian ally. That suggests that Moscow is giving Damascus a green light to resume its offensive to reclaim all its territory from Turkish-backed rebels. The gloves are coming off again, it seems. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Its working. Erdogan is calling Putin .... Putin, Erdogan discuss Syria, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh — Kremlin (TASS).

Russia Says Turkey Tested Its S-400s On US F-16 Jets

First parts of a Russian S-400 missile defense system are unloaded from a Russian plane at Murted Airport, known as Akinci Air Base, near Ankara, Turkey, July 12, 2019. (photo credit: REUTERS)

Jerusalem Post: Russia says Turkey tested its S-400s on US F-16 jets

The tests last year were already known, so Russia’s agenda of discussing them again may be linked to a wider one.

Turkey, a member of NATO, tested the Russian-made S-400 air defense system on US-made F-16 jets during a drill in November 2019, Russia’s state media TASS has reported. The use of the S-400 against the F-16s was already reported last year, but the new details from Russian media appear to cement the claim and infer that something more was going on in those tests.

Russia has an interest in knowing how well its air defense performs against US warplanes. Russia’s S-400 is the top tier of its numerous air defense systems. Some of these systems have been called into question due to mistakes. S-200s used by the Syrian regime shot down a Russian airplane by mistake in 2018. Iranian models of Russian systems have scored big in 2019 with the shoot-down of a US drone, but the Iranians also shot down a civilian jetliner in January.

Read more ....

Update: Ankara Testing Russian-Bought S-400s on US-Made Fighter Jets in Turkey, Report Says (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: This is actually old news. It also reinforces the decision of the U.S. in not selling the F-35 to Turkey.

Did This Russian Submarine Violate The Montreaux Convention That Limits The Movement Of Naval Vessels Through The Bosphorus Strait?

A Russian Kilo Class submarine passes by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Köprüsü Bridge on the Bosporus, Turkey, on June 23. It is flying the Russian Navy flag. Yörük Işık

Forbes: Russian Submarine Transits Bosporus In Move That Raises Questions Under International Treaty

A Russian submarine passed through Turkey on Tuesday in a maneuver that appears to stretch the terms of the longstanding Montreux Convention, a treaty that limits the movement of naval vessels between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. The Russian Navy has made similar moves before, using a clause in the terms to conduct combat operations in the Mediterranean. It is becoming a pattern. If these moves go unchecked it could change the balance of power in the region, making Russia more powerful in the Mediterranean.

The submarine was photographed by Yörük Işık, a highly respected ship spotter who lives in Istanbul. There is no mistaking that this is a Kilo Class submarine. Only Russia operates this type of submarine in the Black Sea. Romania also has a sole example on its lists but that hasn’t been active in decades so it cannot be that.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Russian Ministry of Defense is stating that the Rostov-on-Don submarine was transiting the Bosporus for “scheduled repairs” which by the terms of the Montreux Convention does allow transit for repairs.

Yeah. OK.

At The Last Moment Russia And Turkey Have Postponed Their Talks On The Syria And Libya Wars

Lavrov and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu were to visit Istanbul for the discussions [Sputnik/Alexander Astafyev/Pool via Reuters]

The National: Russia-Turkey talks on Libya and Syria postponed

Russia's foreign and defence ministers had been expected to arrive in Istanbul on Sunday

An expected visit to Turkey by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday has been postponed, with no reason or rescheduled date given.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Mr Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The visit was announced on Saturday by the two countries' foreign ministries, with Syria and Libya expected to feature high on the agenda.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Before high level officials are to meet there is usually a consensus on what will be discussed and agreed upon during the meeting. It is what low level diplomats, officials, and aides do. But to have such a high level meeting cancelled at the last minute tells me that someone decided at the last minute to change their position and/or demands. My read from Russia is that the Turks changed their mind. I am sure this news report also surprised some people in Moscow .... Turkey plans to set up two military bases in Libya (Libya Observer).

Update: Coincidence? A few hours after this postponement, the Kremlin made the following announcement .... Russia confirms it backs Greece’s view of maritime law (Greek City Times).

More News On Russia And Turkey Postponing Their Talks On The Syria And Libya Wars

Russian Foreign & Defense ministers postpone Turkish Libya & Syria talks -- Jerusalem Post
Russia, Turkey put off talks expected to discuss Libya and Syria -- Al Jazeera
Russia, Turkey postpone talks on Syria, Libya conflicts -- Washington Times
Russian ministers’ visit to Turkey postponed -- Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey, Russia postpone talks on Libya over essential differences -- Libyan Express