Russia has raised concerns over reports that a large stockpile of US-origin weapons and ammunition currently held by the Turkish Armed Forces could be transferred to Ukraine.
In a statement on August 15, 2026, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently released US congressional documents indicated that the proposed transfer could involve a substantial quantity of military equipment, including weapons that Moscow describes as offensive.
According to Zakharova, the reported arsenal includes 12 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) launchers, more than 2,500 unguided cluster munitions for those systems, 47,000 203mm cluster artillery shells and 70 ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.
Zakharova questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported transfer, saying that several important details remain unclear. She said it was not known who initiated the proposed re-export, how the weapons would be transferred, or when such a large shipment could reach Ukraine.
She also questioned the motivations of Washington and Ankara, arguing that the reported move would conflict with their stated positions that they want to contribute to a political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman accused the United States and Turkey of opening what she called another "Pandora's box" by potentially supplying additional lethal weapons to Ukraine. She argued that increasing military assistance would prolong the conflict and could result in further casualties and destruction.
Zakharova further claimed that additional Western weapons would not significantly change the overall course of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, which Moscow continues to describe as following its stated objectives and "just scenario."
At the same time, she warned that weapons transfers could have broader diplomatic consequences. According to Zakharova, continued military supplies could damage Russia's bilateral relations with both Washington and Ankara and further undermine trust between the countries.
Her comments also focused particularly on Turkey. Zakharova pointed to previous statements by Turkish officials that Ankara avoids supplying "lethal" weapons to Kyiv. She argued that combining peacekeeping rhetoric with military assistance to Ukraine would create contradictions and weaken mutual confidence.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has now requested clarification from both Washington and Ankara regarding the information contained in the documents released by the US Congress.
The reported weapons package is significant because it could include long-range ATACMS missiles, MLRS equipment and large quantities of cluster munitions and artillery ammunition. However, the exact status, timing and conditions of any potential transfer remain unclear based on the information presented by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Zakharova concluded by calling on the parties involved to reassess the situation and said it was "not too late to take a sober look" at the possible consequences.
The statements come as diplomatic efforts surrounding the Ukraine conflict continue alongside ongoing military support for Kyiv. Any confirmed decision by Washington and Ankara to transfer the reported weapons would likely attract further attention from Moscow and could add another complication to already strained relations between Russia, the United States and Turkey.
For now, the Russian Foreign Ministry says it is awaiting official explanations from Washington and Ankara regarding the reported US-origin weapons stockpile and its possible transfer to Ukraine.
Note: The claims regarding the proposed weapons transfer, its quantities and the motivations of the parties involved are presented as stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The Russian Foreign Ministry's characterization of the conflict and the reported weapons transfer has not been independently established in this article.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes statements and claims made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The reported weapons transfer, its exact quantities, timing and conditions have not been independently verified. The views expressed by officials quoted in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.
