Russia Condemns U.S. and Turkey Over Planned Transfer of Thousands of Weapons to Ukraine

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Russia has sharply criticized the United States and Turkey over a proposed transfer of American-made weapons from Turkish military stocks to Ukraine.
• The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of a possible transfer that could include 70 ATACMS missiles, 12 M270 MLRS launchers, about 2,500 M26 rockets and 47,000 artillery shells.
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the planned transfer as an “opening of Pandora’s box” and accused Washington and Ankara of undermining trust.
• The weapons would reportedly come from Turkey’s existing stocks of U.S.-supplied equipment, rather than representing newly manufactured American weapons.
• The proposed transfer has also attracted criticism from Human Rights Watch because some of the ammunition reportedly includes cluster munitions.

Russia has reacted angrily to a proposed U.S.-approved transfer of American-made weapons from Turkish stocks to Ukraine, accusing Washington and Ankara of undermining efforts toward a political settlement. The package could include dozens of ATACMS missiles, M270 launchers, thousands of rockets and tens of thousands of artillery shells.

Washington Approves the Potential Transfer

The controversy centers on a possible Turkish transfer of U.S.-origin military equipment to Ukraine.

The U.S. State Department has notified Congress that it is prepared to authorize Turkey to transfer weapons from its national stocks to Kyiv. The reported package includes 70 M39 ATACMS missiles and 12 M270 MLRS launchers, alongside thousands of additional rockets and artillery shells.

The notification does not mean that all of the weapons have already been delivered to Ukraine. Rather, it clears a major U.S. legal obstacle to the proposed re-export.

What Is in the Package?

According to documents cited in recent reporting, the potential transfer could include:

• 70 M39 ATACMS missiles
• 12 M270 MLRS launchers
• approximately 2,500 M26 rockets with cluster-warhead components
• approximately 47,000 artillery shells.

If implemented in full, the package would represent a substantial addition to Ukraine’s stocks of long-range and artillery ammunition.

The ATACMS missiles would be particularly significant because they provide Ukraine with a long-range strike capability, while M270 launchers can employ several types of rockets and missiles.

Russia Calls It a “Pandora’s Box”

Moscow has responded with strong criticism.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the United States and Turkey of undermining mutual trust by simultaneously talking about a potential settlement while facilitating additional weapons supplies to Ukraine.

Russian officials have also requested explanations from Washington and Ankara regarding the proposed transfer.

Zakharova described the decision as an “opening of Pandora’s box,” framing the planned weapons transfer as evidence that the two countries were escalating rather than reducing the conflict.

Turkey’s Position Is Less Clear

The situation is complicated by the fact that Ankara has reportedly said it does not have information about the specific U.S. plan described in the congressional notification.

A Turkish government source told Russian state media that Ankara was not aware of Washington’s plans concerning the re-export of American weapons stored in Turkey and suggested that questions about the authorization should be directed to the United States.

This means the exact status of the proposed transfer remains unclear.

The U.S. authorization creates the possibility of the transfer, but it does not necessarily mean that every item listed in the notification has already been handed over to Ukraine.

The ATACMS Would Be the Most Significant Element

Among the weapons reportedly included in the package, the 70 ATACMS missiles are likely to attract the greatest attention.

ATACMS gives Ukraine the ability to strike targets at considerable distances from the front, making the missiles particularly valuable for targeting military logistics and other high-value facilities.

The M270 launchers would also provide additional launch capacity for Ukraine’s existing long-range rocket and missile arsenal.

The proposed transfer therefore combines both launch platforms and ammunition rather than simply supplying individual rounds.

Thousands of Additional Rockets and Shells

The package extends well beyond ATACMS.

The reported 2,500 M26 rockets and 47,000 artillery shells could provide Ukraine with a substantial quantity of ammunition for sustained operations.

The M26 rockets are particularly controversial because they contain cluster submunitions.

Human Rights Watch has called on the U.S. Congress to block the proposed transfer of cluster munitions from Turkey to Ukraine, citing the humanitarian risks associated with unexploded submunitions.

Why Turkey Has These Weapons

The weapons involved are largely older American systems that were supplied to Turkey during previous decades.

Turkey operates a substantial arsenal of U.S.-origin military equipment, including the M270 MLRS.

The proposed arrangement would therefore allow Ankara to transfer equipment already in its inventory rather than waiting for newly produced weapons from U.S. factories.

For Ukraine, that could potentially mean faster access to ammunition and launch systems if the transfer proceeds.

Another Sign of Changing Military Supply Chains

The proposal also illustrates how Ukraine’s military support network has evolved.

Weapons are no longer reaching Ukraine exclusively through direct bilateral U.S. aid packages. Increasingly, Washington is authorizing third countries to transfer equipment from their own inventories.

This can allow older weapons systems held by NATO members and other partners to be redirected toward Ukraine while the countries providing them replace their stocks with newer equipment.

For Ukraine, the model potentially expands the pool of available weapons.

Russia Sees a Contradiction

Moscow’s criticism is also connected to the wider diplomatic environment.

Russia has repeatedly argued that Western military assistance makes negotiations more difficult and prolongs the war.

The Kremlin therefore views the proposed transfer as contradictory to statements by Washington and Ankara about diplomatic efforts.

The United States and its allies, however, have continued to argue that strengthening Ukraine’s military position is necessary to influence Russia’s calculations at the negotiating table.

The Transfer Is Not Yet a Completed Delivery

One distinction is important: the U.S. authorization should not be confused with confirmation that all of these weapons have already arrived in Ukraine.

The congressional notification establishes that Washington is prepared to permit the re-export of the American-origin equipment.

The final timing, quantity and implementation of the transfer could still depend on decisions by Turkey and the United States.

Nevertheless, the authorization removes an important barrier and signals that Washington is willing to facilitate another significant flow of weapons to Ukraine.

A Potentially Important Addition to Ukraine’s Arsenal

If the reported package is ultimately transferred in full, Ukraine would receive a notable combination of long-range missiles, launchers, rockets and artillery ammunition.

For Russia, that means additional pressure on its military logistics and rear areas.

For Ukraine, the package could strengthen both its long-range strike capabilities and its ability to sustain artillery operations.

The Russian reaction demonstrates how seriously Moscow views the potential transfer.

The proposed Turkish weapons package is therefore significant not only because of the number of missiles and shells involved, but because it shows how the United States, Turkey and Ukraine are reshaping military supply routes while diplomatic efforts to end the war continue.