![Image of Russia’s Rostec Corporation headquarters in Moscow, Russia [Rostec/Facebook]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2015_11_6-Russia%E2%80%99s-Rostec-Corporation-HQ12191575_1070534749657387_3950708724640244306_n.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
Russia is ready to discuss supplying Su-35 fighter jets to Turkey, the head of the state-owned Rostec corporation said in a statement yesterday.
“If our Turkish colleagues express a desire, we are ready to work out deliveries of Su-35 fighter jets,” Sergei Chemezov said, according to the statement.
He added that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov had told the Intrafax news agency that there is a possibility for Moscow and Ankara to begin negotiations over the sale of Russian fighter jets.
This comes after Washington said on Wednesday that Ankara’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile defence systems “renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible”.
“Our military-to-military relationship is strong, and we will continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey,” the US press secretary added.
OPINION: How could Turkey respond if US imposed sanctions over Russia’s S-400 delivery?
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised Washington’s decision to remove the country from the F-35 programme.
“This unilateral step contradicts the spirit of alliance and does not rely on any legitimate justification,” the ministry said in a press release.
“It is not fair to remove Turkey, a main partner, from the F-35 Program, and also the claim that S-400 system would jeopardize the F-35s is baseless.”