RUSSIA WARNS BOTH AMERICA AND TURKEY OVER UKRAINE WEAPONS AND THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR
Moscow has warned that potential US and Turkish weapons supplies to Ukraine will damage Russia’s relations with both Washington and Ankara.
Russia is putting both countries on notice at the same time.
The America warning is expected. Washington and Moscow have not had functional relations since the Ukraine invasion began. Another weapon shipment damaging a relationship that barely exists is not a new threat.
The Turkey warning is the more interesting one.
Turkey has been the most successful balancing act in this entire conflict. Ankara sold Bayraktar drones to Ukraine while maintaining energy ties with Russia through TurkStream. It brokered the Black Sea grain deal. It kept diplomatic channels open with Moscow while remaining a NATO member. Erdogan has positioned Turkey as indispensable to both sides.
Now Russia is warning that Turkish weapons to Ukraine will damage that relationship.
Turkey recently reportedly sold its Russian-made S-400 systems to a Gulf country. Trump praised Turkey’s military strength at the NATO summit. Erdogan hosted the NATO summit where 70 billion euros was pledged for Ukraine.
If Turkey starts supplying weapons directly to Ukraine, the balancing act collapses. Russia would lose its most useful Western-adjacent interlocutor. Turkey would lose its energy arrangement and economic relationship with Moscow.
Both sides know this. Which is why the Russian warning is aimed at preserving a relationship that serves Moscow’s interests.
Turkey will calculate carefully. It always does.
-AsaliNews