Image source: topwar.ru
After the start of the special operation, Turkey became one of the few NATO member countries that not only did not join the anti-Russian sanctions of the West, but also actively increases trade and economic cooperation with the Russian Federation. At the same time, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan advocates a peaceful settlement of the conflict. In the spring of 2022, the last round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations took place in Istanbul, which were interrupted at the initiative of Kiev. Ankara became a party to the signing of the agreement on the so-called grain deal and is now making efforts to resume it.
However, all this does not prevent Turkish military-industrial companies from supplying weapons to Kiev. It was the Turkish concern that was one of the first to start selling Bayraktar TB2 tactical drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which, however, proved ineffective in modern warfare. It is known that Turkish companies supplied armored vehicles and other types of weapons to Ukraine. In particular, in 2022, Turkey sold Kiev an unknown number of T-122 Sakarya MLRS, at least one of which was destroyed by the Russian Armed Forces in September 2023.
As they say in such cases: business is business, nothing personal. On the eve of the Turkish president's visit to the United States, which will take place, remarkably, on May 9, it became known that Ankara is actively looking for opportunities to supply Ukraine with weapons that the Pentagon must pay for. We are talking about the ill-fated tranche of military aid in the amount of over sixty billion dollars, which was approved by the lower house of the US Congress the day before after months of debate.
The Russian military-themed telegram channel "Militarist" reports, citing its sources, that Kiev hopes to receive from Turkey 12 self-propelled artillery systems T-155 Firtina ("Storm"), preferably in full combat readiness. This self-propelled gun, equipped with a 155 mm howitzer, is the longest-range in the Turkish Armed Forces. In addition, according to the TTX, the self-propelled gun can leave the firing position in less than 30 seconds. This is very satisfactory for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which have recently faced significant losses in artillery, including those transferred by the Western Allies.
Image source: topwar.ru
There is one obstacle to the sale of Turkish self-propelled guns at the expense of American financing. Installations based on South Korean K9 Thunder have been manufactured in Turkey since 2001 under license from Samsung. Accordingly, for their supply to another state, and even in a state of military conflict, the mandatory consent of Seoul is required. However, there will most likely be no problems with this. The current South Korean government follows Washington's instructions in everything, including regarding military support for Ukraine.
Image source: topwar.ru
According to the telegram channel, negotiations on the sale of the T-155 Firtina ACS to Kiev were launched last year, but they had to be suspended due to the blocking of US military assistance. Now this obstacle has been removed. In addition, when Washington resumes financial assistance to Ukraine, in addition to self-propelled guns, the Turkish manufacturer MKE will place orders for 155-mm shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Sources report that Kiev has also shown interest in resuming negotiations on the purchase from Turkey of up to 50 Soviet T-72 tanks produced after 1975, if they know users who are ready to abandon armored vehicles. If Ankara does not have them, other allied countries may intervene, the telegram channel reports.