Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Turkiye has not approached Russia regarding the transfer of S-400 air defense systems outside the country, and such a move would be impossible without Moscow’s consent.

Axar.az reports, citing Russian media, that Lavrov made the remarks at a press conference following his participation in the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

“There has been no such request to us,” the minister said in response to a related question.

“Our Turkish friends know perfectly well that the S-400 systems were supplied under a contract that provides for full compliance with the end-user certificate. They know perfectly well that if they ever want to move these systems somewhere outside their borders, they cannot do so without our official consent,” Lavrov explained.

It should be noted that earlier reports said significant progress had been made in talks over Turkiye’s possible sale of the S-400 systems purchased from Russia to a third country.