Russia Seeks Clarification from US and Turkey over Cluster Munitions Transfer

Moscow has formally demanded explanations from both Washington and Ankara over a proposed $256 million transfer of decades-old American-made artillery and cluster munitions from Turkish stockpiles to Ukraine, a move that threatens to further strain already fragile relations between the Kremlin and its Black Sea neighbor. The request, confirmed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, comes as Human Rights Watch urges the U.S. Congress to block the deal over humanitarian concerns.

Russia Seeks Clarification from U.S. and Turkey over Cluster Munitions Transfer

Moscow, Russia – this week — The Russian Foreign Ministry has formally requested clarifications from Washington and Ankara regarding reports of a possible U.S.-Turkish arms package destined for Ukraine, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The proposed deal, which has been circulating in U.S. congressional notifications, would transfer tens of thousands of artillery projectiles and cluster munition rockets that have sat in Turkish stockpiles for decades, produced under a 1987 license from the United States.

Zakharova said the attempts to employ peacekeeping rhetoric while simultaneously supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces inevitably undermine mutual trust, especially against the backdrop of repeated assurances from Turkish officials that Turkey avoids supplying lethal aid to Kyiv. She added that the U.S. and Turkey still have time to soberly assess the situation regarding plans to supply weapons to Ukraine.

Details of the Proposed Package

The proposed $256 million package, as outlined in documents sent by the U.S. State Department to Congress, includes Turkey's entire fleet of 12 M270 rocket systems, 70 ATACMS ballistic missiles, 2,524 M26 rockets, and 47,000 artillery projectiles containing more than 10 million explosive submunitions. The State Department notification states that Ukraine wants to acquire the systems to bolster its offensive and defensive fire-support capabilities as it continues to resist Russia's invasion.

"Ukraine already possesses munitions of the same or essentially similar type," the notification said, according to sources familiar with the document. The weapons were manufactured under a 1987 license agreement between Turkey and the United States, meaning Washington retains approval rights over any transfer to a third party.

Human Rights Watch Raises Alarm

Human Rights Watch on August 11 urged the U.S. Congress to block the proposed transfer, calling it "a humanitarian liability for civilians." The organization warned that the decades-old weapons pose serious risks to civilians and called on Turkey to abandon the plan, stressing compliance with international restrictions on cluster weapons.

Neither the U.S. nor Turkey is a signatory to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, sale and export of classes of weaponry that scatter explosive submunitions across a wide area. However, HRW argues that the age and condition of the munitions — some of which have been in storage for nearly four decades — significantly increases the risk of malfunction and unexploded ordnance, which can remain lethal for years after a conflict ends.

Moscow's Diplomatic Response

Zakharova's statement this week marks a significant escalation in Russia's rhetorical posture toward Turkey, a NATO member that has sought to maintain a delicate balancing act between Moscow and Kyiv throughout the conflict. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned about Western arms supplies to Ukraine, characterizing them as direct involvement in the war.

"The attempts to employ peacekeeping rhetoric while simultaneously supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces inevitably undermine mutual trust," Zakharova said, specifically referencing Turkish officials' repeated assurances that Ankara avoids supplying lethal aid to Kyiv. She emphasized that the U.S. and Turkey "still have time to soberly assess the situation" regarding plans to supply weapons to Ukraine.

Turkey's Balancing Act

Turkey has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, hosting peace talks in the early months of the war and brokering the Black Sea grain deal that allowed Ukrainian agricultural exports to reach global markets. Ankara has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow while also providing Bayraktar TB2 drones to Ukraine and supporting Kyiv's territorial integrity.

However, the proposed transfer of lethal aid would represent a significant shift in Turkey's stated policy of not supplying weapons to Ukraine. Turkish officials have repeatedly emphasized their role as a neutral broker, and the revelation of the proposed arms package has raised questions in Moscow about Ankara's true intentions.

U.S. Congressional Review Process

The U.S. State Department's notification to Congress triggers a review period during which lawmakers can object to the proposed transfer. The package, valued at $256 million, would be funded through the Foreign Military Financing program, which provides grants and loans for allied nations to purchase American-made defense equipment.

Congressional sources indicate that the notification was sent in recent weeks, and the review period is ongoing. Human Rights Watch's intervention is aimed at persuading lawmakers to block the deal on humanitarian grounds, arguing that the transfer would violate the spirit of international norms even if it does not technically breach U.S. law.

Regional Implications

The proposed transfer has significant implications for the Black Sea region, where Russia and Turkey have historically maintained a complex relationship. The two countries have cooperated on energy projects, including the TurkStream natural gas pipeline, while competing for influence in the Caucasus, Syria, and Libya.

Analysts suggest that the arms transfer could signal a recalibration of Turkey's foreign policy, potentially moving Ankara closer to the Western alliance on security matters while maintaining economic ties with Moscow. This could indicate that Turkey is seeking to leverage its strategic position to extract concessions from both sides, or that domestic political pressures are pushing Ankara toward a more overtly pro-Western stance.

Analysis and Implications

The Kremlin's demand for explanations from both Washington and Ankara reflects a broader pattern of Russian warnings about Western arms supplies to Ukraine. Moscow has consistently characterized such transfers as evidence of NATO's direct involvement in the conflict, using them to justify escalatory rhetoric and military posturing.

This could indicate that Russia views the proposed Turkish transfer as particularly provocative, given Ankara's dual role as a NATO member and a partner that has maintained open lines of communication with Moscow throughout the war. The fact that the weapons are American-made and decades old adds another layer of complexity, as it highlights the enduring legacy of Cold War-era military cooperation between Washington and Ankara.

The timing of the proposed transfer is also significant. Ukraine has been pressing its Western allies for increased artillery and rocket capabilities as it seeks to maintain pressure on Russian forces along multiple fronts. The M270 systems and ATACMS missiles would provide Kyiv with additional long-range strike capabilities, potentially altering the tactical balance in contested areas.

For Turkey, the decision to approve the transfer carries both risks and opportunities. On one hand, it could strengthen Ankara's position within NATO and demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine at a time when Western unity is under scrutiny. On the other hand, it risks alienating Moscow and potentially jeopardizing the carefully calibrated relationship that has allowed Turkey to play a mediating role in the conflict.

The humanitarian concerns raised by Human Rights Watch add a moral dimension to the debate. Cluster munitions have been banned by 123 countries under the 2008 Convention, and their use has been widely condemned due to the disproportionate harm they cause to civilians, both during attacks and in the years following due to unexploded submunitions. The fact that the proposed transfer involves weapons that have been in storage for decades only amplifies these concerns.

As the U.S. Congress reviews the proposed package, the outcome will be closely watched in Moscow, Ankara, and Kyiv. A decision to proceed would likely trigger a sharp response from the Kremlin, potentially including diplomatic reprisals against Turkey or increased rhetoric about NATO provocation. A decision to block the transfer would represent a victory for Human Rights Watch and could provide Moscow with a talking point about Western divisions.

What remains clear is that the proposed transfer has already achieved one thing: it has forced a public reckoning over Turkey's role in the conflict and the limits of its balancing act. The coming weeks will reveal whether Ankara is willing to risk its relationship with Moscow for the sake of supporting Kyiv, and whether Washington is prepared to override humanitarian concerns in pursuit of military objectives.

By Irina Volkov, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: The Moscow Times, Human Rights Watch, TASS, KyivPost, Turkish Minute.