Kremlin says S-400 delivery 'according to plan'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The S-400 air defense systems will be delivered as planned, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"On behalf of the Kremlin, I can confirm that the deal on the S-400 is being implemented according to the plan," Peskov told reporters.

Tensions between the U.S. and Turkey have escalated in recent months over Ankara’s purchase of S-400 systems, which Washington said will jeopardize Turkey's role in the F-35 fighter jet program and could trigger sanctions.

During last week’s G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said U.S. President Donald Trump told him there would be no sanctions against Turkey after it received the S-400 defense systems, which are expected to be delivered later in July.

At the summit, Trump blamed the standoff on then-President Barack Obama's refusal to sell Patriot missiles to Turkey, and said Turkey had not been treated fairly.